Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Photo Credit: Forestry Images

Mizoram has reported fresh outbreak of Fall Army Worm (FAW), a dangerous crop damaging pest, at Lengpui near Aizawl, an official of state agriculture department said on Tuesday.

He said that officials of Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) from Mamit district visited Dialdawk area at Lengpui on Monday and confirmed the outbreak based on spot verification.

The official said that pesticides, insecticides, sprayers and pheromone trap were distributed to maize cultivators at Dialdawk area to control the infestation.

Meanwhile, state agriculture director Rohmingthanga Colney said that FAW outbreak was also reported at Chhungte village in Champhai district bordering Myanmar in early April.

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However, the infestation was not extreme as maize are yet to fully grown.

He expressed hope that the outbreak could be contained with pesticides, insecticides and sprayers being provided to the maize cultivators.

Mizoram reported the first outbreak of Fall Army Worm in March last year in Lunglei district in southern part of the state damaging crops to the tune of over Rs 20 crore.

More than 8,900 families from more than 330 villages in eight districts have been affected by the infestation last year.

Officials said that the Fall Army Worm was detected in 2,840 hectare of land across the State last year.