Fall armyworm status and distribution: "In February, armyworms were reported in the border areas of Ruvuma and Mbeya, located in southern Tanzania (Armyworm Network 11/03/2017). As of 16 March, damages to hundreds of hectares of maize planted earlier in the year in the western region of Rukwa have also been reported. Nkasi district, in Rukwa, is particularly affected, as many households in the region depend on maize for access to income and food (Coastweek 16/03/2017). The worms are said to have come into Tanzania from neighbouring Zambia (Coastweek 16/03/2017). The government has announced the purchase of some 15,000L of pesticides to curb the outbreak (Coastweek 16/03/2017)." -ACAPS Thematic Report: Armyworm outbreak in Africa (23 March 2017)

Estimated yield loss:

References:

Africa- Fall armyworm outbreaks. ACAPS Thematic Report (2017). https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/170323_acaps_thematic_report_armyworms_2.pdf