THE AFRICAN SCARE OF FALL ARMYWORM: ARE SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS IMMUNE?

Yıl 2020, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 1, 192 - 206, 19.02.2020

Witness Maluleke

Öz

The manifestations of Fall Armyworm [FAW] (Spodoptera frugiperda) in South Africa were all clearly reminders of the seriousness of this epidemic in 2019. The scare caused by FAW as an African Moth continues to multiple largely. This is becoming a factor for African farmers, seeking urgent acknowledgement of the associated detrimental effects mapped with economic, social, environmental opportunities and fully exploitation of sustainable agriculture in the country and elsewhere. This study adopted qualitative research approach, with an aid of non-empirical research design: Systematic review, closely looking at recent reputable reports across globe, while using South Africa as a case study, from 1995-2019 (i.e. 24 years’ projection). This study found that South African readiness against FAW is [currently] highly questionable, with the consequences of failing to act clearly felt by many South African farmers, therefore, the strategies geared towards this pandemic [might] not be able to totally stop the clock on its effects on farming practices, however, revisiting and adding to the available strategies can be beneficial to this sector to holistically affirm and sustain agriculture in South Africa as one of the two sectors at the core of economic development.
It is concluded that there is no single solution to respond to this elusive spread, thus, multi-agency approach is highly sought. For recommendations, available precautions should not be limited to the positive use of furrows, chemicals, clear warning to cattle farmers and swift reporting of outbreaks. The interventions of South African government [i.e. Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Forestry - DAFF] and other interested parties remains important in response. One of the essential components relates to investing more energies of understanding the ignored effects of FAW on South African farmers.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Agriculture, [African, Fall Armyworm, African scare, Economic development, Farmers, South Africa, Sustainable development

Kaynakça

• AgriObit. 2017. African Armyworm control in South Africa. https://agriorbit.com/african-armyworm-control-south-africa/. Accessed: 2018/12/13. AgriOrbit. 2017. Fall Armyworm confirmed in SA. https://agriorbit.com/fall-armyworm-confirmed-south-africa/. Accessed: 2018/12/13. AgriOrbit. 2017. Armyworm species in SA to be verified. https://agriorbit.com/armyworm-species-in-sa-to-be-verified/. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Animal Research Council. 2017. The new invasive Fall Armyworm. http://www.arc.agric.za/Documents/BannerPdfs/The%20new%20Invasive%20Fall%20Armyworm%20(FAW)%20in%20South%20Africa.pdf. Accessed: 2018/12/13. BBC News [Online]. 2017. Why are armyworms attacking Africa’s Crops? 14 February [Online]. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38970158. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Briggs, H. 2017. Fall Armyworm ‘threatens African farmers’ livelihoods. BBC News, 6 February [Online]. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38859851. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Brits, M. 2017. New Armyworm species wreaks havoc across Africa. 12 January, AgriOrbit [Online]. https://www.agriorbit.com/new-armyworm-species-wreaks-havoc-across-africa/. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Brown, E. S. 1972. Armyworm control. Pest Articles and News Summaries. 18:2, 197-204. Coleman, A. 2017. Approval of products against Fall Armyworm to be confirmed. February 6, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/approval-products-fall-armyworm-confirmed/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Coleman, A. 2017. Fall Armyworm still a threat to Crops. March 7, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/fall-armyworm-still-a-threat-to-crops/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Coleman, A. 2014. Armyworm outbreak alert. February 25, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/armyworm-outbreak-alert/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Creswell, J.W. 2014. Creswell, J.W. 2014. Research design Research design -- QQualitativeualitative, quantitative and, quantitative and mixed mixed methods approachesmethods approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Dean, S. 2019. Farmers urged to be vigilant for Crop pest infestations. March 29, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/farmers-urged-to-be-vigilant-for-crop-pest-infestations/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Dean, S. 2017. Fall Armyworm invades as Kenya recovers from drought. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/africa/fall-armyworm-invades-kenya-recovers-drought/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Dewhurst, C. F. 1985. The African Armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) - the East African story outlined from 1962. Antenna, (9): 12–18. Erasmus, A. 2017. The invasion of the fall armyworm in South Africa. https://www.grainsa.co.za/the-invasion-of-the-fall-armyworm-in-south-africa. Accessed: 2019/07/22. Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. 2017. Fall Armyworm confirmed in South Africa. February 4. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/fall-armyworm-confirmed-in-south-africa/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Gough, D., Oliver, S. & Thomas, J. 2012. Gough, D., Oliver, S. & Thomas, J. 2012. An intrAn introduction to systematic reviewsoduction to systematic reviews. . London: Sage.London: Sage. Haggis, M. J. 1984. Distribution, frequency of attack and seasonal incidence of the African Armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), with particular reference to Africa and south-western Arabia. Tropical Development Research Institute, London, Report No. L69, Pp. 116. Haggis, M. J. 1986. Distribution of the African Armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the frequency of larval outbreaks in Africa and Arabia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 76: 151–170. Harman, A. 2019. Fall Armyworm has Australia and Asia in its sights. February 6, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/world/fall-armyworm-australia-asia-sights/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Jahn, G.C. 1995. Environmental assessment for Armyworm control in Ethiopia. USAID: Washington, DC. Liamputtong, P. 2013. Liamputtong, P. 2013. Qualitative research methodsQualitative research methods. Victoria: Oxford.. Victoria: Oxford. Matthews, B & Ross, L. 2010. Research methods. A practical guide for the social sciences. Essex: Pearson. Monks, K. 2017. Armyworm invasion destroys Crops in Southern Africa. 24 January, CNN [Online]. https://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/24/africa/armyworm-invasion-africa/index.html. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Odiyo, P. O. 1984. A guide to seasonal changes in the distribution of armyworm infestations in East Africa. Insect Science and its Application, (5): 107–119. Odiyo, P.O. 1981. Development of the first outbreaks of the African Armyworm Spodoptera exempta (Walk.), between Kenya and Tanzania during the ‘off-season’ months of July to December. Insect Science and its Application, (1): 305–318. Phillips, L. 2019. Drought mitigates Fall Armyworm damage. February 27, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/drought-mitigates-fall-armyworm-damage/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Phillips, L. 2017. FAO hosts Fall Armyworm workshop in Kenya. April 25, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/africa/fao-hosts-fall-armyworm-workshop-kenya/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Punch, K.F. 2014. Punch, K.F. 2014. Introduction to social research. Quantitative & qualitative Introduction to social research. Quantitative & qualitative approachesapproaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Riley, J. R., Reynolds, D. R. and Farmery, M. J. 1983. Observations of the flight behaviour of the Armyworm moth Spodoptera exempta, at an emergence site using radar and infra-red optical techniques. Ecological Entomology, (8): 395–418. Rose, D. J. W., Dewhurst, C.F & Page, W. W. 2000. The African Armyworm Handbook. 2nd Edition. NRI: Chatham, UK. The Guardian News [Online]. 2018. Plague of Armyworms threatens to strip southern Africa of key food Crops. 14 February [Online]. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/14/southern-africas-food-crops-under-threat-from-fall-armyworm-invasion. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Van der Walt, J. 2019. High presence of Fall Armyworm Moths in the Western Cape. April 5, Farmer’s Weekly [Online]. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/high-presence-of-fall-armyworm-moths-in-the-western-cape/. Accessed: 2019/05/13. Wilson, K. 2017. Armyworms are wreaking havoc in southern Africa. Why it’s a big deal? 13 February, News24 [Online]. https://www.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/armyworms-are-wreaking-havoc-in-southern-africa-why-its-a-big-deal-20170213. Accessed: 2018/12/13. Yarrow, J. G. Otindo, B. L., Gatehouse, A. G & Lubega, M. C. 1981. Dwarf variety of coconut, Cocos nucifera (Palmae), a host plant for the African Armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walk) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Insect Science and its Application, (1): 361–362.