Mobile app launched to track Africa’s fall armyworm invasion

NAIROBI, March 16 (Xinhua) The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on
Wednesday launched a mobile application to fight fall armyworm, a
crop-eating pest that has invaded thousands of hectors of farmlands in
Africa.

FAO said the Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning Systems (FAMEWS)
mobile application is vital for early detection of the pest and guiding
best response. “The app will help us build our collective knowledge of fall
armyworm in Africa, and connect all the dots: from how and where it spreads
to what makes it weaker and less damaging,” said Keith Cressman, FAO Senior
Agricultural Officer, in a statement.  Cressman said the app provides
valuable insights on how the insect changes over time and space to improve
knowledge of its behavior in Africa and guide best response.  “The app is
useful on two fronts: for farmers and agricultural workers in the direct
management of their crops to prevent further infestations and reduce
damage; and for all actors involved in managing fall armyworm in Africa by
providing vital analysis on risks, spread and management,” he added.

According to FAO, the app will enable farmers to report the level of
infestation, map the spread of the insect, as well as to describe its
natural enemies and most effective measures to contain it.  According to
FAO, the crop-eating pest has already infected millions of hectares of
maize in Africa, a staple crop across the continent, threatening food
security of more than 300 million people, mainly small-holder farmers who
are already struggling to make ends meet and produce enough food for their
families. By early 2018, only ten out of the 54 African states and
territories have not reported infestations by the fast-spreading,
crop-munching pest.