FAW infestation has been contained in Mizoram — Official

Aizawl, July 15 (PTI): The Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation in Mizoram has been contained, a senior Agriculture department official said on Monday.

The FAW insects attacked the maize crops in the state but it had been contained due to the coordinated efforts of the Agriculture department and the farmers in using pesticides, joint director in the Agriculture department James Lalsiamliana said.

The FAW infestation has come down as compared to the peak outbreak in mid May, Lalsiamliana told PTI.

“The onset of monsoon also helped a lot in containing the outbreak,” he said.

The quantum of loss due to the outbreak would be known only in September after the maize harvest in the state, Lalsiamliana added.

The Fall Armyworm (FAW), or Spodoptera frugiperda, is an insect that prefers to attack maize crops, he said.