Lok Sabha Question No. 3555 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-10
Subject: Effect of Fall Armyworm Pest
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3555 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2019

## EFFECT OF FALL ARMYWORM PEST

3555.  SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the total area affected by Fall Armyworm pest in the country;
- (b) the details thereof, State-wise;
- (c) the total losses, if analysed, due to the same;
- (d) whether the Government intends to take measures to counter the same; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (c): The total  area  affected  by  Fall  Armyworm  (FAW)  pest  in  the  country  during 2018-19 was 5,06,107 Ha and during 2019-20 is 7,18,226 Ha.  State wise affected area is at Annexure-I.

States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, MP, Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunanchal Pradesh and Punjab reported that no significant crop loss was noticed due to FAW. However, Rajasthan reported 3 to 6% loss, Maharashtra and Manipur reported less than 10% loss and Mizoram reported an estimated loss of approx. Rs. 12 Lakhs.

(d) & (e): Yes,  Government  of  India  and  concerned  State  Governments  have  taken several steps to counter the same. Details of the measures taken are as Annexure-II.

## Annexure- I

## Status of FAW affected area state wise

| Sl No.   | State             | Area affected (Ha) 2018-19   | 2019-20                                   |
|----------|-------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Karnataka         | Maize -130778 Sorghum- 80863 | 263476                                    |
| 2        | Maharashtra       | 23251                        | Maize -210100 Sorghum- 22400 Total:232400 |
| 3        | Andhra Pradesh    | 8969                         | 6801                                      |
| 4        | Telangana         | 39,466                       | 36117                                     |
| 5        | Odisha            | 1                            | 1299                                      |
| 6        | Tamil Nadu        | 220985                       | 1063                                      |
| 7        | Gujarat           | 1794                         | 1822                                      |
| 8        | West Bengal       | -                            | 485                                       |
| 9        | Chhattisgarh      | -                            | 4200                                      |
| 10       | Uttar Pradesh     | -                            | 7085                                      |
| 11       | Madhya Pradesh    | -                            | 122773                                    |
| 12       | Mizoram           | -                            | 3409                                      |
| 13       | Manipur           | -                            | 4059                                      |
| 14       | Nagaland          | -                            | 4937                                      |
| 15       | Assam             | -                            | 550                                       |
| 16       | Jharkhand         | -                            | 76                                        |
| 17       | Arunachal Pradesh | -                            | 828                                       |
| 18       | Meghalaya         | -                            | 190                                       |
| 19       | Sikkim            | -                            | 308                                       |
| 20       | Tripura           | -                            | 7                                         |
| 21       | Rajasthan         | -                            | 26,300                                    |
| 22       | Haryana           | -                            | 1                                         |
| 23       | Punjab            |                              | 40                                        |
| 24       | Bihar             | -                            | Trace incidence details awaited           |
| Total    | Total             | 5,06,107                     | 7,18,226                                  |

## Measures taken to control FAW

1. Committee  under  the  Chairmanship  of  Secretary  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and Farmers Welfarehas monitored the action plan for control and containment of FAW and has held meeting on 3 rd August 2018, 14th November, 2018, 15th March, 2019 and 1st October, 2019.
2. Committee  under  Chairmanship  of  AgricultureCommissioner,  DAC&FW  has  worked  for development of management and control strategies and held meetings on 6 th August, 2018, 15 th April, 2019 and 31st October 2019. JS (PP) has conducted video-conference with all States on 28 th August 2019 to review the implementation of package of practices.
3. State  level  sub  committees  established  under  the  chairmanship  of  Principal  Agricultural Commissioner/Director of Agriculture in affected 12 states for early warning and management of FAW are meeting regularly to assess and control the impact of FAW.
4. Crop specific advisories and Package of Practices developed by ICAR for Maize, Sweet corn, Baby corn and fodder maize have been circulated to States for use of bio-control agents, biopesticides, pheromone lures and need based chemical pesticides.
5. Standard for pheromone lure and traps specific to FAW have been circulated to States.
6. Label claim for use of chemical pesticides and bio pesticides has been extended by Registration Committee for use on maize crop for the management of FAW.
7. The Central Government and State Governments have conducted 19740 awareness and training programmes  and  1763  Farmers  Field  Schools  to  promote  sustainable  management  of  FAW among the farmers.
8. The Central and State Government Departments organized 50 training programmes and trained more than 2000 Agriculture extension officials and pesticide dealers on FAW management.
9. GOI  extended  financial  support  to  Karnataka,  Tamil  Nadu,  Telangana,  Gujarat,  Odisha  and Manipur under RKVY for conducting awareness programs, production of bio-control agents and bio pesticides, promotion of pheromone traps for monitoring & mass trapping and need based use of chemical pesticides.
10. DAC&FW in collaboration with FAO has undertaken a project for sustainable management of FAW in India. National Inception workshop on FAW was organized on 29 th -30 th Nov, 2019 at NIPHM, Hyderabad  with  FAO  wherein  70  officials  from  State  Agricultural  Departments  and CIPMCs participated in the workshop.

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