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With its scientific name Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm (CLA) is one of today's most damaging pests, attacking over eighty (80) plant species.

Crops affected by CLA include staple crops such as maize, rice and sorghum, as well as vegetables and cotton.

"The armyworm is the most common pest of economically important cereal crops in West and Central Africa. That's why it's important to combat it effectively, to help farmers mitigate the losses it causes, and thus guarantee food security and increase their incomes", says Dr. Ousmane NDOYE, Coordinator of the "Anticipating and managing biological risks to strengthen farmers' resilience to climate change in West and Central Africa"(Biorisks) project at CORAF.

CORAF, in its mission to coordinate agricultural research in West and Central Africa (WCA), is implementing several initiatives aimed at strengthening farmers' resilience against emerging risks to agricultural production, including CLA.

In addition to providing farmers with pest-resistant/tolerant seeds, CORAF's interventions also aim to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to combat the scourge effectively.

However, to be effective, the fight against CLA must be a concerted effort between all countries. And to ensure this effectiveness and harmonization of efforts, it is necessary to complement this knowledge with good communication practices.

"To fight a common enemy, you need to know its biology, its behavior and its habitat, and above all you need to know how to communicate in order to coordinate interventions effectively," stresses Dr NDOYE.

"That's why it's so important to adopt a good communications strategy, not only to keep abreast of the Fall armyworm and its evolution, but also to coordinate efforts to combat the scourge. 

To this end, for five (05) days, from June 13 to 17, 2022, in Praia, Cape Verde, CORAF will be building the capacities of plant protection specialists from the partner research institutions of two of its main projects: the Biorisks project and the Partnership for Agricultural Research, Education and Development in West Africa(PAIRED) program.

Officials from the Ministries of Agriculture of the twenty-three (23) WCA countries covered by CORAF, as well as other technical partners of CORAF, will also benefit from this training. 

Participants will also have the opportunity to share their experiences in the fight against CLA, and discuss strategies for better coordinating control efforts.

The expected outcomes of the workshop are as follows:

• Communication strategies and methods adapted to the sustainable management of CLA and other emerging risks are known and mastered by agricultural stakeholders;
• Sustainable management practices for the control of CLA throughout the region are known and mastered by agricultural stakeholders;
• Strategies are identified for better coordination of efforts to combat CLA.

The workshop is organized as part of the implementation of the activities of two CORAF initiatives, PAIRED, a five-year program (2017-2022) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Biorisks project, funded by the European Union.