Shutterstock February 14, 2017 Why it’s hard to control the Fall armyworm in southern Africa Kerstin Kruger, University of Pretoria Fall armyworms have a number of characteristics that make them particularly hard to control. They are strong fliers, can breed at a high rate and also develop quick resistance to pesticides.
The Fall Armyworm has a devastating impact because it eats the reproductive parts of the plant as well as its leaves. Shutterstock February 12, 2017 Armyworms are wreaking havoc in southern Africa. Why it’s a big deal Kenneth Wilson, Lancaster University A combination of armyworms native to Africa and those normally found in the Americas are ravaging crops in sub-Saharan Africa.
Charcoal rot is a relatively unknown disease causing yield losses in crops across South Africa, including maize. Shutterstock August 29, 2016 Charcoal rot: a threat to staple food crops in South Africa Estiene Jordaan, University of Pretoria and Jacquie van der Waals, University of Pretoria Charcoal rot is associated with yield losses in crucial crops like maize, soybean and sorghum.