By Sarah Hannan
The fall armyworm that wreaked havoc on maize cultivations in 2018 has resurfaced in the Eastern Province, affecting the crop output of maize farmers for the second time.
However, the Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute (HORDI) stated that it has a biological method of controlling the pest.
After destroying 30 acres of maize cultivation in Matigahatenna, Passara, the fall armyworm has now moved towards Lahugala in the Ampara District, as Sri Lanka once again is burdened with its resurfacing despite the precautions observed by farmers.
Maize farmers in Lahugala recently raised concerns on whether the instructions of the Govijana Seva Centres had no effect and whether the pesticides, although were used as recommended, had no effect on the pest this time.
“We followed the instructions given to us by the Agriculture Officer and sprayed the pesticides as instructed during the recommended time frame. Yet, there was no effect and we are now once again faced with losing our crops to this caterpillar,” a farmer lamented.
Before the Lahugala maize farmers, similar experiences were reported from maize farmers in the Badulla District in August this year. Farmers of Matigahatenna, Passara had estimated that about 30 acres of maize cultivations were destroyed due to the fall armyworm invasion this time.
HORDI Entomology Division Chief Agronomist Senani Weligamage and University of Uva Wellassa graduate in agriculture Elini Mathimaran had conducted laboratory and field research on finding a biological method to eradicate the fall armyworm.
“We conducted this exploration in the farming areas of the Hasalaka area. That was during the 2019/20 Maha season. From the plantations of four farmers, we randomly selected 100 plants out of a total of 25 maize plants. We counted the number of host caterpillars and host predators in these plants on five occasions, testing every two weeks from two to 10 weeks of age. We got a bunch of impressive results,” said Weligamage.
“Through this research, we can see how easy integrated pest management can be. Part of it is the destruction of pests through natural enemies. This is what we unknowingly activate in the natural environment. This may have been one of the reasons why the Sri Lankan fall armyworm did not spread as much as they do in other countries. So, we have to use these animals in our environment for our pest control without following the recommendations coming from abroad. Here, we are talking only about arthropods,” National Agriculture Information and Communication Centre (NAICC) Deputy Director Sanath M. Bandara explained.
After destroying 30 acres of maize cultivation in Matigahatenna, Passara, the fall armyworm has now moved towards Lahugala in the Ampara District, as Sri Lanka once again is burdened with its resurfacing despite the precautions observed by farmers.
Maize farmers in Lahugala recently raised concerns on whether the instructions of the Govijana Seva Centres had no effect and whether the pesticides, although were used as recommended, had no effect on the pest this time.
“We followed the instructions given to us by the Agriculture Officer and sprayed the pesticides as instructed during the recommended time frame. Yet, there was no effect and we are now once again faced with losing our crops to this caterpillar,” a farmer lamented.
Before the Lahugala maize farmers, similar experiences were reported from maize farmers in the Badulla District in August this year. Farmers of Matigahatenna, Passara had estimated that about 30 acres of maize cultivations were destroyed due to the fall armyworm invasion this time.
HORDI Entomology Division Chief Agronomist Senani Weligamage and University of Uva Wellassa graduate in agriculture Elini Mathimaran had conducted laboratory and field research on finding a biological method to eradicate the fall armyworm.
“We conducted this exploration in the farming areas of the Hasalaka area. That was during the 2019/20 Maha season. From the plantations of four farmers, we randomly selected 100 plants out of a total of 25 maize plants. We counted the number of host caterpillars and host predators in these plants on five occasions, testing every two weeks from two to 10 weeks of age. We got a bunch of impressive results,” said Weligamage.
“Through this research, we can see how easy integrated pest management can be. Part of it is the destruction of pests through natural enemies. This is what we unknowingly activate in the natural environment. This may have been one of the reasons why the Sri Lankan fall armyworm did not spread as much as they do in other countries. So, we have to use these animals in our environment for our pest control without following the recommendations coming from abroad. Here, we are talking only about arthropods,” National Agriculture Information and Communication Centre (NAICC) Deputy Director Sanath M. Bandara explained.