Scouting for Fall Armyworm video: Nepali translation released

The recent release of the Nepali version of the 3-D animation video “How to identify & scout Fall Armyworm,” will help the farming community in Nepal prepare for and mitigate the effects of the potential arrival of this devastating insect pest.

Originally from the Americas, Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) was identified in Africa in 2016 and quickly spread to 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where it caused major crop damage. The pest was first detected in India in 2018, where it is causing significant loss to farmers in Karnataka and other Southern Indian states. The ongoing spread of the pest in Asia was confirmed in early 2019 when it was detected in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. While the pest has not yet been detected in Nepal, it is important that farmers are able to identify the insect pest and learn what to do if they encounter it on their farms.

The video shows scouting techniques and highlights the importance of identifying any pest damage at the early stages of crop growth. If the Fall Armyworm is present, integrated pest management practices can help farmers protect their crops against the pest.

Farmers should avoid applying an indiscriminate amount of chemical pesticides, as that will lead to the Fall Armyworm building resistance to pesticides. It may also cause harm to people and to the environment.

The video is part of CIMMYT’s awareness campaign to sensitize stakeholders around the subject and drive mitigation efforts against the effects of Fall Armyworm.

The video was produced by Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO), funded by USAID and developed by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Michigan State University.

The original video has been translated into many languages, reflecting the need for Fall Armyworm preparedness by the international community. The Nepali translation comes after many requests from stakeholders in Nepal, prompting CIMMYT to develop it in collaboration with partners including iDE Nepal, members of the Plant Protection Society-Nepal, the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center (PQPMC, GoN) and Nepalese farmers. The video is also due to be broadcast on Nepali TV channels by PQPMC. 

Watch the video on YouTube here; it can also be found in the CIMMYT Fall Armyworm playlist here

Download the video here

Watch the English version here