Crop loss of Rs 20 crore has been caused by an outbreak of the ‘Fall armyworm’ (FAW) in Mizoram. The government of Mizoram has informed the Centre about the issue. The outbreak was caused by Spodoptera Frugiperda, an insect. It has affected maize cultivation in 1,747.9 hectares in 122 villages, said State Agriculture Minister C Lalrinsanga.
He added, "The state government has formed a Rapid Response Team to monitor the outbreak and take measures to mitigate the loss of crops." According to, State Agriculture Department Director Rohmingthanga Colney, "Chemical pesticides and organic ones were being used to kill the worm in maize fields. However, concerted efforts are now made to contain the outbreak which was first detected in Lunglei district on March 8.”
The state Agriculture department had sent warnings to all the District Agriculture Officers after getting warning from the Centre on February 27. It is to be noted that the FAW outbreak was also reported early this year in neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Agriculture experts believed that the FAW is a lepidopteran pest feeding on multiple plants (polyphagous). It hides under maize being a nocturnal pest and leaves at day time and is also difficult to detect.
