FAO launches training of Farmer Field School on integrated pest management for fall armyworm

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation, part of the United Nations, on Monday launched the Farmer Field School (FFS) training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for fall armyworm (FAW).

This training falls within the regional activities of the “Emergency preparedness and response to strengthen capacities of MENA countries to mitigate the risk of FAW in the region” project funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan, according to a FAO statement.

FAW is an invasive insect that can feed on more than 80 crop plants. The pest first broke out in Africa in 2016, causing devastating losses for many crops, particularly maize.

The 15 sessions of training will be take place in Deir Alla, Shouneh Al Janoubiyah, as well as Al Aghwar Al Janoubiyah throughout this month. The project's objective is to build the capacity of maize farmers in combating FAW pests by training them on field scouting, FAW trapping, damage assessment and yield loss estimation.

After the spread of FAW in Africa in 2016, the insect was again reported in the region in Sudan and Yemen in 2018. Currently, there are eight countries in the MENA region that have officially reported the presence of the pest, including Egypt, Oman, the UAE, Mauritania, Jordan and Syria, according to the statement.