The invasive Fall Armyworm pest has affected the entire Mokokchung district, potentially causing up to 40 per cent maize yield loss.
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MOKOKCHUNG — The invasive Fall Armyworm (FAW) pest has affected the Mokokchung district, threatening maize cultivation across approximately 3,134 ha with potential yield losses of up to 40 per cent, an agricultural expert has said.
Dr. Martha Chakruno, Assistant Chief Technical Officer (Subject Matter Specialist) in the Division of Plant Protection at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, and her team, who researched FAW infestation in Mokokchung district for two years, stated that the pest has spread to all districts of Nagaland with devastating effects since it was first reported in the state in May 2019.
The pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), native to the Americas, was first reported in India during May-June 2018 in Karnataka maize fields and rapidly spread across the country, severely damaging maize crops, including in the northeastern states.
Highly migratory in nature, FAW can travel up to 1,600 km within 30 hours. Cloudy weather, low temperatures, and high rainfall favour rapid population outbreaks.
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Dr. Chakruno informed that the most severely affected crop is maize. In Mokokchung district alone, maize production and cultivation cover approximately 3,134 ha, where the pest can cause yield losses of up to 40 per cent.
She described that the pest undergoes four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult moth, with the larval stage being the most destructive.
FAW larvae aggressively feed on maize leaves, whorls, tassels, cobs, and kernels, producing characteristic “shot holes” and leaving sawdust-like frass. Severe infestations damage the growing point and hinder plant development.
Under monocropping systems, FAW can cause yield losses of up to 40 per cent by reducing the photosynthetic area, stunting growth, impairing reproduction, and significantly lowering crop productivity and grain quality.
The peak season for the pest is between March and July. Effective management of Fall Armyworm requires an integrated approach, as reliance on a single control method has proven ineffective.
Preventive measures such as early synchronised sowing, deep summer ploughing, regular crop monitoring, clean cultivation, and balanced fertiliser use are essential to reduce infestation and crop losses. Early detection enables timely intervention, as FAW attacks maize at all growth stages.
She also advised eco-friendly practices, including the whorl application of sand, ash, charcoal, and plant extracts, hand-picking and destruction of egg masses and larvae, and intercropping with pulses and flowering plants to help suppress pest populations and promote natural enemies.
Biological control using Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana is effective and sustainable. Chemicals like Emamectin benzoate should be used only as a last resort and without repeated application, with all spraying directed to the whorl of the plant.
She further informed that Fall Armyworm is here to stay, making community awareness, stakeholder training, and area-wide management strategies crucial for long-term control.