Lok Sabha Question No. 4592 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Infestation of Fall Armyworm
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4592

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd  March, 2021

## INFESTATION OF FALL ARMYWORM

## 4592.  SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that crops have been getting damaged across the country due to the infestation of fall armyworm which causes extensive damage to crops;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that the lepidoptern pest migrated to India in June, 2018 and it feeds on leaves and stems of more than 80 plant species, causing major damage to crop such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, vegetable crops and cotton, etc; and
- (d) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) to (c) : The fall  armyworm ( Spodoptera  frugiperda )  is  a  polyphagous  migratory pest species in the order of Lepidoptera. The pest was reported for the first time in India in  May  2018.  Globally,  the  pest  is  reported  for  over  80  crop  species.  It  causes infestation in maize frequently and in cotton, rice, sorghum and vegetables occasionally. In India, major infestation has been reported in maize. This pest has affected the whole country maize area in one or other season since Kharif 2018 and has spread throughout India  except  Kashmir  in  three  years  (2018-2020).    A  total  area  affected  by  fall armyworm  (FAW) in the country during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 20-21 is 5,06,107 ha, 7,18,326 ha and 7,07,686 ha respectively. Though, due to timely interventions, issuance of  advisories,  circulations  of  package  of  practices,  wide  publicity,  demonstrations, workshops,  review meetings, close monitoring,  extensive  awareness  campaigns/ orientation/  training  programs  for  extension  officers  and  farmers  by  the  States  and

Centre,  no  significant  damage  have  been  reported  by  States.  Indian  Council  of Agricultural  Research  has  reported  that,  the  strain  that  causes  damage  to  rice, sugarcane, etc. is not reported in India.

(d): As the Fall Armyworm is an invasive pest to India, Indian Council of Agricultural Research  developed  package  of  practices  as  a  'quick  action  strategy'  to  combat  its menace upon its report in 2018. A pest alert was released across the country including Agriculture  departments  of  various  States,  State  Agriculture  Universities  and  Central Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres.  Posters  related  to  preliminary  identification  at farm level, folders, informative bulletins were produced and supplied to stakeholders in different regional languages along with the control measures to be taken up. Package of Practices (POP) for fall  armyworm (FAW) management in different maize types viz. grain maize, fodder maize, sweet corn and baby corn were prepared and  circulated  to  States  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  &  farmers Welfare.  ICAR  institutes  are  monitoring  the  behavior  and  survival  of  FAW  in  various host  plants  under  field  and  laboratory  conditions.  ICAR  Institutes  (Indian  Institute  of Maize Research, National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute Zone X, ICAR Complex for North Eastern Hill Region) with its coordinating network have organized 616 major training programmes across the country benefitting 17,490 personals. ICAR-IIMR in collaboration with FAO organized six virtual training programs on 'Integrated pest management for maize crops with special reference to fall armyworm' under  the  FAO  project  on  'Time-critical  measures  to  support  early  warning  and monitoring and sustainable management of the Fall Armyworm in India' benefiting 597 stakeholders. Presently, maize growing farmers and extension officials are fully aware of the FAW incidence and applying specific interventions throughout India. The Indian Institute  of  Millets  Research and  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  on  Maize started a dedicated research program for the management of FAW through host plant resistance,  cultural,  biological,  chemical  and  mechanical  means  for  its  sustainable management.  In  November  2019,  ICAR  funded  a  mega  project  on  'Development  of sustainable management tools for the invasive pest, Fall Armyworm in maize.

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