Awareness campaign of Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize at Mizoram.
The recent incidence of Fall Army Warm created huge panic among the farmers in Mizoram. The initial incidence level was very high during mid-April. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region. Mizoram Centre collaborated with Directorate of Agriculture (Research and Extension), Aizawl, Mizoram conducted district wise sensitization programme for FAW management. Dr. Saurav Saha, Scientist (Agril. Physics), Mr. Sunil Kumar Sunani, Scientist (Plant Pathology) and Mr. Samik Chowdhury, Technical Officer (GKMS) trained all aspect of Fall Armyworm management (physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical control). Fall armyworm campaign was started from 10.06.2019 and it was ended in 24.06.2019. ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research sponsored the entire campaign. Out of the 8 districts in Mizoram, 7 districts were covered viz. Kolasib, Aizawl, Sercchip, Champhai, Siaha, Lawngthlai and Lunglei. The team executed the 58 jhum field visits, conducted 16 training programmes and interacted with 11 village council presidents in collaboration with line department officials. The farmers were reluctant to adapt chemical use for FAW management; therefore intensive training and interaction was conducted on physical, cultural and biological management of FAW in 13 demonstration plots. Moreover, field training was organized to individual 11 maize growers in jhum fields; other than the registered training participants during our field visit.
The FAW infestation was more for the maize growers of southern Mizoram (in Lunglei and Siaha); most of the farmers in eastern Mizoram was much ignorant about FAW damage management. The response from the farmers was supportive during training and demonstration. The farmers got chemical pesticide support from the line department officials and applied to control FAW. For the present crop condition assessment, we observed that the standing maize crop has recovered in majority of the places with regeneration of new leaves over the infested one after rainfall event (after the feedback received from farmers) as the crop phenophases varied from vegetative to flowering stage. Mostly at Champhai district, early sowing of maize during February month resulted some cob damage in 12 to 20% plants in local maize fields. At present, there are substantial awareness about FAW damage among the line department officials. Mostly Chemical control measures pave the way for immediate control to save the yield for the present year, but physical, cultural and biological control measures has to be adopted for long term FAW management in Mizoram. We have also realized more village level sensitization programme has to be organized at the remote corners of Mizoram towards mass sensitization of field scale FAW management.The details of the training programme organized are as follows.
Location Title of training Muallungthu community hall, Aizawl, Mizoram (10.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize Thenzawl community hall, Serchhip, Mizoram (11.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize District Agriculture Office (DAO) Lunglei, Mizoram (12.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize KrishiVighyan Kendra (KVK), Lawngtlai, Mizoram (13.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize District Agriculture Office (DAO) Saiha, Mizoram (14.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize
AEO, ATM and BTM
Niawhtlang III Saiha, Mizoram (14.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize Siatha village, Saiha, Mizoram (15.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize Chhauarlung III village, Saiha, Mizoram (15.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize KrishiVighyan Kendra (KVK), Hnahthial, Lunglei, Mizoram (17.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize District Agriculture Office (DAO) Serchhip, Mizoram (18.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize Block Development Office (BDO), East Lungder, Serchhip, Miozram (20.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize KrishiVighyan Kendra (KVK), Khazawl, Lunglei, Mizoram (21.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize I & PR conference hall, Chanem, Champhai, Mizoram (22.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize Phaipheng village, Kolasib, Mizoram (26.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize KrishiVighyan Kendra (KVK), Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram (27.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize Block Development Office (BDO), Thingdawl, Kolasib (28.06.2019) Awareness campaign on ‘Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) management in maize
