Home » AgriChem ‘Push and pull’ cropping system to stop armyworm in Africa AgriChemCropsLatest News ‘Push and pull’ cropping system to stop armyworm in Africa 28 ViewsBy Oscar NkalaThe International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) says recent field experiments in East Africa have proved that inter-cropping maize with drought-resistant green-leaf desmodium and Brachiaria grass on the edges of the farm can help curb the spread of the fall armyworm (FAW). “Data on the number of fall armyworm larvae on maize, percentage of maize plants damaged by larvae and grain yields was collected. “There was an 82.7% reduction in the number of fall armyworm larvae per plant and 86.7% drop in plant damage per plot with push-pull systems. The fall armyworm is a deadly pest of South American origin. Nearly all of Sub-Saharan Africa has been affected and the FAW is likely to spread into North Africa this year.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 05, 2018 15:56 UTC