Identification of the threats of the Fall Army Worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) epidemic on crop production and socio-economic impacts in Dewahuwa agrarian area, Galewela Divisional Secretariat in Mathale District of Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Fall Army Worm (FAW) as known as Spodoptera Frugiperda is a destructive pest, reported in the field of agriculture in the world who is a nearly reported foreign pest in Sri Lanka. The Department of Agriculture in Sri Lanka introduced this worm as “Sena caterpillar.” Dewahuwa Agrarian area is one of the areas situated in the Mathale District. Agriculture is the main economic way of livelihood for the Dewahuwa community. They cultivate Paddy, Maize, Chili, etc. In the present, they have to face an egregious problem, the comeback of FAW. The vast number of cultivations have destructed, and it leads to economic collapse. Accordingly, the main target of this study is to identify the impacts of FAW on crop production and identify the socio-economic impacts of the pest in the Dewahuwa Agrarian Area. Both primary data and the secondary data were used for this study. Primary data consisted of a questionnaire and field observations. Hence to achieve the target of the research, 50 farmers were selected in the Dewahuwa area. Secondary data were collected from Dewahuwa Agrarian Service Center. Across the surveyed regions, Maize, Cabbage, Knokol, paddy is the most affected cultivations of this area. Maize cultivated farmers are highly affected by the hazard. A large number of crop affected farmers have reported in the Bulanawewa region. They have received low revenue in this season than previous seasons. They have to use more expensive insecticides and of the degree of pesticides much more for their cultivations. When supplying crops to the market, they have to get low income from their harvest. Therefore, the findings of the study suggest that, conduct an awareness program on the identification of pest and introduce control measures especially biological and cultural control options as well as compensation for affected farmers and provide alternative seeds can be the best solution to minimize the impact of Fall Army Worm.