Adamawa Launches Aggressive ‘Fog The Moth’ Campaign To Protect Dry Season Crops

The Adamawa State Government has launched an aggressive pest control campaign aimed at protecting dry season crops from the destructive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

The initiative, tagged “Fog the Moth”, is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture as part of efforts to curb the increasing threat posed by the invasive pest to dry season farming across the state.

Officially unveiling the campaign, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Professor David Finchiwa, said the government is adopting a proactive and science-driven approach by deploying a specialized thermal fogging technique to eliminate adult moths before they lay eggs.

According to him, the strategy is designed to break the reproductive cycle of the Fall Armyworm and prevent large-scale infestation of farms, particularly during the dry season.

“We are moving beyond reactive spraying,” Professor Finchiwa said. “By deploying thermal fogging to destroy adult moths, we prevent infestation before it begins. This approach disrupts the life cycle of the Fall Armyworm and is critical to safeguarding our food supply during the dry season.”

The Commissioner explained that the campaign is specifically targeting dry season maize and Masakwa sorghum, two key crops that are currently under serious threat from the pest.

He disclosed that the operation is being coordinated through the Ministry’s Department of Agricultural Services and will focus on cluster farming areas and communities where adult moth infestations have already been reported.

Professor Finchiwa stressed that the success of the exercise will depend largely on the cooperation of farmers with field pest control teams deployed to affected locations.

Under the campaign, ultra-low volume, high-heat thermal fogging equipment will be used to achieve the immediate knockdown of flying and harboring adult moths, with the aim of preventing the carry-over of the pest into the upcoming wet farming season.

Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to protecting farmers’ livelihoods, the Commissioner said the Ministry would continue to adopt proactive and evidence-based interventions to ensure food security and boost agricultural productivity across Adamawa State.