The Fall Armyworm has been a major threat to maize production in Zambia, leading to heavy pesticide use and significant losses for farmers. GIZ’s partner the Zambian Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI) is championing integrated pest management to combat this invasive pest sustainably. This approach combines push–pull cropping systems, pheromone traps, and biological control with parasitoids — reducing chemical inputs while increasing resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Push–pull intercropping uses Desmodium and Brachiaria grass to disrupt pest lifecycles.

• Pheromone traps enable early detection of Fall Armyworm presence.

• Biological control agents (parasitoids) naturally suppress pest populations.

• Farmers and extension workers can access ZARI’s integrated pest management manual via QR code.

📺 Watch the full video introduction from the marketplace session held at the 2025 SNRD Africa convention to learn how Zambia is leading in sustainable pest control solutions.

French captions available in the Youtube player.