Egypt Confronts Massive Crop Losses to Fall Armyworm Invasion

Corn farmers across Egypt are struggling with widespread devastation of their crops this season, facing substantial losses due to the pervasive and formidable Fall Armyworm (FAW).  The FAW, a moth species native to the Americas, is a formidable agricultural menace worldwide. Its larval stage, characterized by uncontrollable caterpillars, inflicts severe crop damage, thus food security. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the impact of this pest is particularly devastating in Africa, where it could lead to the annual loss of up to 17.7 million tonnes of corn. This potential devastation translates to an economic blow of USD 2.5 billion (EGP 120 billion) to USD 6.2 billion (EGP 298 billion), jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions and exacerbating the challenge of feeding tens of millions of people. “We had previously issued warnings before its entry into Egypt. Now it has spread throughout the country,” Hussein Abdel-Rahman, head of the General Syndicate of Farmers, said. According to Deputy Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Serge Nakouzi, many countries in the MENA region are grappling with significant challenges posed by FAW, which affects…

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