Picture: FAO/ArchiveAddis Abeba – Influx of Armyworm migrants devoured more than 3,000 hectares of crops in Ethiopia’s Southwest Regional State, Masresha Belachew, the region’s deputy president and head of the bureau of agriculture told state media. Previously, experts from the federal ministry of agriculture had come to visit the areas following information exchanges between the regional state and the Ministry. The news did not specify if the variety is the fall armyworm (FAW), known by its scientific name “Spodoptera frugiperda.” However, a separate statement from the Southwest Regional State Communication Bureau said the pests were “African Armyworm,” and said it has damaged crops planted on more than 500 hectare land. He called on the community to work hard to control and prevent the influx of new pests to new areas and in order to protect the next crop season. The Ministry of Agriculture has not released a statement as of the writing of this news.

Source: Ethiopian News May 31, 2022 07:56 UTC