©FAO Myanmar EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO ENHANCE TECHNICAL CAPACITY FOR EARLY WARNING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM IN MYANMAR October 2020 SDGs: Countries: Myanmar Project Code: TCP/MYA/3706 FAO Contribution: USD 250 000 Duration: 6 May 2019 – 5 August 2020 Contact Info: FAO Representation in Myanmar [email protected] EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO ENHANCE TECHNICAL CAPACITY TCP/MYA/3706 FOR EARLY WARNING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM IN MYANMAR Implementing Partners The FAW infestation in Myanmar is primarily affecting Plant Protection Division, Department of Agriculture, smallholder maize farmers that have limited-to-no the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation. experience with the pest and few resources to manage its Beneficiaries spread. Moreover, FAW poses a threat to cropping systems and food security throughout Myanmar because Farmers, extension workers, plant protection officers and of its high potential to adapt to alternative crops, including agricultural stakeholders affected by the Fall Armyworm rice. As the adult moth can travel over 100 kilometres a infestation. night, the potential for largescale and widespread Country Programming Framework (CPF) Outputs infestation is an immediate concern. Given the prevailing Priority Area A: Enhanced food security, nutrition and food risk to national food and livelihood security, farmers safety. require urgent support in the sustainable management of Priority Area C: Enhanced resilience of local communities FAW through an integrated pest management (IPM) and farming households to natural and humanitarian approach. disasters, climate change and transboundary and IMPACT emerging infectious disease risks. The project was designed to protect the livelihoods and increase the food security of FAW-affected smallholder farmers in Myanmar. ACHIEVEMENT OF RESULTS Under the project, the Fall Armyworm Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS) and IPM strategies were operationalized in 15 states/regions in Myanmar. Initially, baseline studies were conducted to determine the primary areas of FAW infestation, in addition to the major crops affected. Through the delivery of an inception workshop, the dissemination of communication materials in project target areas and the production of training manuals, awareness was raised on the FAW life cycle, the symptoms of FAW infestation and the importance of FAW monitoring and IPM interventions. Subsequently, an efficient FAW monitoring system was established through the delivery of training to 60 extension staff, representing 43 townships, ©FAO Myanmar on the use of the FAMEWS mobile application and pheromone traps for monitoring activities. Pheromone BACKGROUND traps, refill kits and mobile phones were procured and Fall Armyworm (FAW) is a transboundary pest that is distributed to relevant Government officials and farmers, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. while training was also delivered to 170 key farmers on It was first detected in Central and Western Africa in early FAW biology, IPM/biopesticide use, natural insecticide 2016 and now poses a threat to crop production around production and FAW monitoring and scouting. A FAW the world. The FAW larva (caterpillar) is known to feed on management plan was developed and implemented over 80 crop species, several of which are major crops in following the assessment of potential biological agents Myanmar, including maize, rice, sorghum, millet, sugar that act as “natural enemies” of FAW. A total of 1 300 cane, various vegetables and cotton. Moreover, litres of neem biopesticide was procured and distributed developing larvae target different areas of the host crop, to farmers, along with suitable personal protective depending both on their own developmental phase and equipment (PPE). Field experiments were also conducted the stage of crop development. Notably, young larvae feed in coordination with Yezin Agricultural University to on leaves, which results in “windowing.” This can evaluate FAW management options and both the efficacy ultimately lead to “dead heart” in maize, which prevents and potential for increased use of biopesticides, resulting cob formation. in the production of two scientific reports. 1 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO ENHANCE TECHNICAL CAPACITY TCP/MYA/3706 FOR EARLY WARNING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM IN MYANMAR IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK PLAN 5. Technological sustainability The methodologies introduced under the project are Project activities were carried out within the approved considered highly sustainably as they made use of local budget, with a no-cost extension and work plan revision materials and expertise to better address the challenges being approved to ensure their completion. In particular, presented by FAW infestation. This is exemplified by the the intercropping seeds for field experiments were not use of locally produced biopesticides. available in early 2020, resulting in the trials being conducted in April–July. The project accounted for the 6. Economic sustainability health and environmental risks of pesticide use by having The use of the FAMEWS is both highly effective and suitable technical staff available for related activities. In affordable for PPD staff. Within the ongoing FAW addition, an unforeseen health risk was presented by the management programme, IPM based on the FAMEWS is ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which was effectively also highly effective. Moreover, the availability of the FAW managed through the dissemination of equipment and IPM Manual and non-chemical insecticides help minimize information to farmers involved in the field experiments. the costs of FAW management for maize farmers. FOLLOW-UP FOR GOVERNMENT ATTENTION Beyond the project, efforts should be undertaken to ensure that access is gained to the FAW global platform. This will support the ongoing monitoring and management of FAW on a global scale. On a national scale, efforts should focus on the continued implementation of IPM strategies and monitoring activities introduced under the project. SUSTAINABILITY ©FAO Myanmar 1. Capacity development The project directly engaged the Ministry of Agriculture, DOCUMENTS AND OUTREACH PRODUCTS Livestock and Irrigation (MOALI), the Department of Manual on Integrated Fall Armyworm Management. Agriculture (DOA) and the Plant Protection Division (PPD), Yangon, FAO. 48 pp. embedding FAW IPM and monitoring activities within http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/CA9688EN/ these Government structures. Beyond the project, (English Version). FAO and PPD. 2020. ongoing Government follow-up efforts are expected to Manual on Integrated Fall Armyworm Management. contribute to the management of FAW. Yangon, FAO Myanmar. 56 pp. http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CA9688MY 2. Gender equality (Burmese Version). FAO and PPD. 2020. There was a high involvement of women in all project Efficacy of Different (Biological, Botanical, and Chemical) activities, enabling men and women to benefit in an Insecticides against Fall Armyworm (FAW) on Maize in equitable manner. Lewe Township, Nay Pyi Taw. Yezin Agricultural University. Khin, M.M., Zaw, L.M.T., Myo T.T. and 3. Environmental sustainability Myint, T. 2020. The use of biopesticides was promoted under the project, Intercropping Maize with Legumes for Management which supports environmental sustainability in the of Fall Armyworm (FAW) on Maize in Lewe Township, Nay Pyi Taw. Yezin Agricultural University. Khin, M.M., management of pests. Zaw, L.M.T., Myo T.T. and Myint, T. 2020. 4. Human Rights-based Approach (HRBA) – in particular Understanding Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Right to Food and Decent Work (pamphlet). Produced in English and Burmese. The project did not directly address elements of the Integrated Fall Armyworm Management (pamphlet). human rights-based approach. However, more generally, it Produced in English and Burmese. aimed to protect livelihoods and food security in Integrated Fall Armyworm Management (vinyl poster). Myanmar. Produced in Burmese. 2 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO ENHANCE TECHNICAL CAPACITY TCP/MYA/3706 FOR EARLY WARNING, MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF FALL ARMYWORM IN MYANMAR ACHIEVEMENT OF RESULTS - LOGICAL FRAMEWORK Expected Protected livelihoods and food security of smallholder farmers in FAW-affected areas of Myanmar Impact Reduced infestation and spread of Fall Armyworm by strengthening the Fall Armyworm monitoring and integrated management capacities at all levels Number of states/regions with operational Fall Armyworm surveillance systems and integrated Indicator management mechanisms Baseline 0 End Target 10 affected regions and states At the time of project closure, the FAMWES and integrated management mechanisms were operational in 15 states/regions (listed below). Ayeyarwaddy Region Sagaing Region Mandalay Region Yangon Region Bago Region Magway Region Outcome Tanintharyi Region Naypyitaw Council Area Comments Shan State and follow-up action to be Kayah State taken Kayin State Kachin State Rakhine State Chin State Mon State Overall, 60 extension staff from the PPD and DOA (representing 43 townships) received training on the use of (i) the FAMEWS mobile application, (ii) mobile phones and top-up billing and (iii) pheromone traps. Although the FAWEWS was made operational throughout Myanmar, the global platform was not accessible at the time of project closure. Follow-up efforts to resolve this need to be undertaken in coordination with the PPD and FAO headquarters. 3 EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO ENHANCE