The ‘fall armyworm’ worm continues to pose a challenge to the world’s food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has issued a warning about this insect. The organization says that this worm has spread to 70 countries including India so far. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has said that this worm attacks 80 types of plants, including maize and rice. Once it reaches the place, it spoils the entire crops there.
According to experts, countries have to make rescue and prevention plans before it is too late. The army worm found mainly in America is said to have reached Nigeria in 2016. In no time they spread to 44 countries of Africa and made their food on crops to fill their stomach.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about $12 million has been spent to control this pest. The fall armyworm can feed on more than 80 crops, including rice, sorghum, millet, sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton, but it prefers maize.
Major damage to jowar cultivation in India
The ‘fall armyworm’ worm has targeted 70 percent of the jowar crop and has reached vegetables. India produces 20 metric tonnes of jowar annually. If measures are not taken to stop this insect, it can spread throughout the subcontinent.
What is fall armyworm worm
A worm called fall armyworm is quite fatal to maize plants. Maize is the main food of this worm, this worm can cover a distance of 1 thousand kilometers in a night in search of its food. A worm named Fall Armyworm lays about 1 thousand eggs in its life span of 4 to 5 days.
what are the preventive measures
To protect the maize plants from this insect, it is necessary to spray the main medicine. Scientists told that spraying in the field should be done only in the morning or evening, the effect of the medicine does not remain due to spraying in the afternoon.
These insects are causing damage to crops in India
Termite: Damage to wheat, sugarcane, paddy and all other fruit plants.
white fly: It causes more damage in vegetables and broad-leafed plants.
Mahu: It is dangerous for crops like mustard, barley and potato etc.
Grasshopper: It causes great damage to sugarcane, jowar, bajra etc.
Bhua Pillu: It damages moong, urad, soybean and groundnut.