Scientists from the IITA Fall Armyworm (FAW) task force—Host Plant Resistance Entomologist Abou Togola, TAAT FAW compact Leader Pierre Chinwada, and IITA Kano Station Representative Alpha Kamara—have piloted an ambitious training program on FAW management in Kano and Kaduna states in Northern Nigeria. They carried this out under a GIZ-IITA project titled “Support the development of the maize, cassava and yam value chains in Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo states in Nigeria”.
The program aimed to train 200 or more trainers from the agricultural extension agents (EAs) in the two states. The training covered topics such as FAW identification tips, FAW biology and ecology, field scouting practices and deciding the action threshold, components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), treatment windows for proper chemical application, recommendations for avoiding insecticide resistance in the pest, calibration of sprayers, and personal protective measures.
Theoretical and practical sessions were held in March for Kaduna EAs and in April 2021 for Kano EAs. The training participants were split into batches of 40 to 45 people per session because of COVID-19 safety regulations.
In the end, a total of 300 EAs attended the training, with each EA tasked to transfer the knowledge to at least 20 farmers through a step-down training. Each farmer was encouraged to share the knowledge with their neighbor or a friend.
Two WhatsApp groups (one for each state) were created to connect the stakeholders (scientists, EAs, and farmers). Through this platform, all the beneficiaries highlighted the success of the training and recognized the benefits they gained.
Moreover, the WhatsApp groups have served as a discussion forum where participants shared their impressions and experiences. More importantly, the forum provided a medium for asking questions that were addressed promptly by the IITA expert trainer. The training is expected to significantly impact maize production in Kano and Kaduna states this season.
“According to farmers, the impact on this year’s maize production is incredible compared to the previous year,” said Togola.
This innovative training approach will be reproduced in other parts of Nigeria and other countries to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers against the invasive fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda.
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