Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia
IntroductionNative to the Americas and highly polyphagous, the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has garnered attention for causing significant damage, primarily to maize.MethodsThis study synthesizes FAW emergence, government responses, and farmer reac...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Insect Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2024.1455585/full |
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| author | Eiichi Kusano Nipon Poapongsakorn Urairat Jantarasiri Kamphol Pantakua Cuong H. Tran Khin Akari Tar Khin Akari Tar Thong Kong Viengsavanh V. Phimphachanhvongsod Youichi Kobori |
| author_facet | Eiichi Kusano Nipon Poapongsakorn Urairat Jantarasiri Kamphol Pantakua Cuong H. Tran Khin Akari Tar Khin Akari Tar Thong Kong Viengsavanh V. Phimphachanhvongsod Youichi Kobori |
| author_sort | Eiichi Kusano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionNative to the Americas and highly polyphagous, the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has garnered attention for causing significant damage, primarily to maize.MethodsThis study synthesizes FAW emergence, government responses, and farmer reactions in mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), and assesses the feasibility of government-recommended measures in terms of efficacy and cost-efficiency.ResultsFrom late 2018 to the rainy season of 2019, FAW infestations extensively emerged in MSEA maize fields. MSEA governments promptly issued strategies and guidelines through plant protection divisions/departments, which involved international organizations, foreign governments, and private web portals. Alongside the foliar application of emamectin benzoate (EMB), which is the most frequently mentioned method, MSEA governments advocated for integrated pest management (IPM)-oriented approaches. These include application methods of chemical insecticides, use of host plant resistance, biological control, cultural and interference methods, and local measures aimed at reducing chemical usage. Despite comprehensive recommendations, maize farmers primarily rely on EMB foliar treatment for FAW control.DiscussionWe highlight the need for further research and dissemination regarding the widely accepted foliar application of chemical insecticides, specifically in relation to human safety, improvements in application technology, and clear guidelines for large-scale outbreaks. On the other hand, the concentrative foliar application of chemical insecticides raises concerns about resistance evolution. Alternatives to foliar treatment with chemical insecticides, mainly EMB, such as seed treatment with diamides and neonicotinoids, genetically modified maize seeds approved only in Vietnam, and biological control, have demonstrated efficacy. Seed treatment provides cost and labor benefits for early-stage FAW infestation prevention. Validation of natural enemy rearing costs may prove advantageous as preliminary estimates suggest they could be relatively low. Not all strategies recommended by the government or widely discussed are necessarily relevant at farm-level. This study provides the following suggestions for the proposal of more acceptable strategies. 1) Studying the actual responses of governments and farmers with special emphasis on cost efficiency; 2) Making alternatives to EMB foliar application more cost-effective inclusive of the cost of labor; and finally, 3) Verifying the effectiveness of the alternative techniques. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ec14a64221d448db542b71a2c3bd39a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-8600 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Insect Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ec14a64221d448db542b71a2c3bd39a2025-01-22T07:15:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Insect Science2673-86002025-01-01410.3389/finsc.2024.14555851455585Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast AsiaEiichi Kusano0Nipon Poapongsakorn1Urairat Jantarasiri2Kamphol Pantakua3Cuong H. Tran4 Khin Akari Tar5 Khin Akari Tar6Thong Kong7Viengsavanh V. Phimphachanhvongsod8Youichi Kobori9Social Sciences Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, JapanModern Agriculture Policy, Thailand Development Research Institute, Bangkok, ThailandGood Regulatory Policy, Thailand Development Research Institute, Bangkok, ThailandModern Agriculture Policy, Thailand Development Research Institute, Bangkok, ThailandFaculty of Accounting and Business Management, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, VietnamFreelance Researcher, Yangon, MyanmarProgramme, INGO Forum Myanmar, Yangon, MyanmarFaculty of Agro-Industry, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, CambodiaPlanning and Cooperation Division, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic RepublicCrop, Livestock, and Environment Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, JapanIntroductionNative to the Americas and highly polyphagous, the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has garnered attention for causing significant damage, primarily to maize.MethodsThis study synthesizes FAW emergence, government responses, and farmer reactions in mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA), and assesses the feasibility of government-recommended measures in terms of efficacy and cost-efficiency.ResultsFrom late 2018 to the rainy season of 2019, FAW infestations extensively emerged in MSEA maize fields. MSEA governments promptly issued strategies and guidelines through plant protection divisions/departments, which involved international organizations, foreign governments, and private web portals. Alongside the foliar application of emamectin benzoate (EMB), which is the most frequently mentioned method, MSEA governments advocated for integrated pest management (IPM)-oriented approaches. These include application methods of chemical insecticides, use of host plant resistance, biological control, cultural and interference methods, and local measures aimed at reducing chemical usage. Despite comprehensive recommendations, maize farmers primarily rely on EMB foliar treatment for FAW control.DiscussionWe highlight the need for further research and dissemination regarding the widely accepted foliar application of chemical insecticides, specifically in relation to human safety, improvements in application technology, and clear guidelines for large-scale outbreaks. On the other hand, the concentrative foliar application of chemical insecticides raises concerns about resistance evolution. Alternatives to foliar treatment with chemical insecticides, mainly EMB, such as seed treatment with diamides and neonicotinoids, genetically modified maize seeds approved only in Vietnam, and biological control, have demonstrated efficacy. Seed treatment provides cost and labor benefits for early-stage FAW infestation prevention. Validation of natural enemy rearing costs may prove advantageous as preliminary estimates suggest they could be relatively low. Not all strategies recommended by the government or widely discussed are necessarily relevant at farm-level. This study provides the following suggestions for the proposal of more acceptable strategies. 1) Studying the actual responses of governments and farmers with special emphasis on cost efficiency; 2) Making alternatives to EMB foliar application more cost-effective inclusive of the cost of labor; and finally, 3) Verifying the effectiveness of the alternative techniques.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2024.1455585/fullAsia-Pacific regioncorncost-efficiencyintegrated pest management (IPM)maizeSpodoptera frugiperda |
| spellingShingle | Eiichi Kusano Nipon Poapongsakorn Urairat Jantarasiri Kamphol Pantakua Cuong H. Tran Khin Akari Tar Khin Akari Tar Thong Kong Viengsavanh V. Phimphachanhvongsod Youichi Kobori Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia Frontiers in Insect Science Asia-Pacific region corn cost-efficiency integrated pest management (IPM) maize Spodoptera frugiperda |
| title | Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia |
| title_full | Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia |
| title_fullStr | Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia |
| title_short | Government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland Southeast Asia |
| title_sort | government and farmer responses to the fall armyworm outbreak in mainland southeast asia |
| topic | Asia-Pacific region corn cost-efficiency integrated pest management (IPM) maize Spodoptera frugiperda |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/finsc.2024.1455585/full |
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