A novel farmers biopesticide for the sustainable management of fall armyworm in Kenya and Zambia

The fall armyworm (FAW) is a major pest of maize in sub-Saharan Africa and threatens food security and livelihoods in the region. Current management options against FAW are unsustainable because of their heavy reliance on highly hazardous chemical pesticides. However, this strategy is fraught with many challenges including human and environmental safety and undesirable impact on native insect biodiversity. Use of more sustainable and environmentally friendly nature based solutions (Nbs) is more desirable. Baculoviruses are proven Nbs against FAW, and some commercial products are available. However, their wider adoption and use is constrained by the high costs to the farmer. CABI, with support from the International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) has therefore embarked on an initiative to reduce the cost and enhance the availability of baculoviruses against FAW to small-holder farmers in Kenya and Zambia. The approach involves producing a virus extract from infected larvae collected from maize fields - "Farmers' Biopesticide". The resultant mixture is then sprayed back to the field for the control of the pest. The strategy also involves training farmers on how to identify infected larvae, and produce the extract on their own, and feedback on their experience. Our research shows that under field conditions, the maize damage and yield from fields treated with the virus extracts from the FAW larvae was comparable to that of a commercial baculovirus and a Metarhizium-based biopesticides. A survey on farmers knowledge, attitudes and practices on use of baculoviruses for FAW control revealed a significant gap in knowledge of biopesticides. However, through plant health rallies, farmer field days and trainings, there was farmers’ willingness to adopt the Farmers’ Biopesticide because of the ease of accessibility and the reduced health risks associated with the method. This nature based strategy offers farmers a sustainable and affordable option for management of FAW. However, further research is needed to further optimize the performance of the Farmers’ Biopesticide within an overall IPM strategy as well as measure its impact on other native insect biodiversity.