Thailand’s Fall Armyworm Invasion

September 30, 2022

ARTICLE

The global pest Fall Armyworm has been on an unwarranted global tour making its way from North America to the African continent. By 2018 Fall Armyworm was found in Thailand. These notorious pests can feed on over 80 cultivated species and have caused damage to Thailand’s corn crop. The work and cooperation of Corteva and the Thai government has allowed for farmers to have access to the crop saving tools needed to combat Fall Armyworm.

Every pest management success story starts with an effective watchdog. Through the use of a surveillance program, researchers were able to identify the first spotting of Fall Armyworm in Thailand within the Tak Province near Myanmar. Since the first sighting of Fall Armyworm in December 2018, Fall Armyworm has since been seen in over 50 Provinces of Thailand. Without intervention the yield loss caused by fall armyworm in 2019 was projected at around 25- 40% and a monetary loss of around 130 to 260 million US dollars.

Public/Private Teamwork

With the onsight of a massive agricultural loss for Thai farmers, Corteva stepped in to assist the government response. When the pest first came to Thailand there were no registered treatment options for farmers. However, through fast tracked approval and government testing the necessary products could be made available to farmers quickly. Corteva shared information on Fall Armyworm with government officials and farmers through technical learning sessions. The information helped to aid the government’s policy making and speed the control of Fall Armyworm.

Innovative solutions

One upside to a globally distributed pest is that control methods are already developed when the pest is introduced to a new area. This was the case for Fall Armyworm. Corteva has been able to provide technical assistance and products that effectively control Fall Armyworm for both North America and the African continent, allowing for swift solutions to Thailand’s outbreak.

To control Fall Armyworm, agronomists developed an integrated pest management protocol to inform farmers how to effectively control pests. Folded into the protocol Corteva suggested a biological control product, Jenova, derived from bacteria used to combat Fall Armyworm. This product is safe for users and consumers and helps to prevent resistance from other typically used chemicals. Previously farmers often sprayed other pesticides around 4 times a season, while these products only require 1-2 sprays a season.

To spread pest control information to the region, workshops were set up by Corteva using the field school concept to target small holder farmers. Around 1,200 lead growers of rice and corn were chosen to attend the field school training. Following the field school concept, these lead growers move on to teach the other farmers in their network.

The Fall Armyworm outbreak in Thailand demonstrates the detrimental effects of climate change on our agricultural system. The outbreak was exacerbated by increased steady rains that made a welcoming environment for the infiltration of the pest. Climate change has a significant effect on the efficiency of agriculture exhibited through increased pest, pathogen, and climatic stressors. As we work toward our goal of agricultural productivity growth; creating innovative solutions, building private/public relationships, and connecting farmers with the resources they need is key to feeding our future.