KNOWLEDGE STATUS OF MAIZE FARMERS ON FALL ARMYWORM (SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA): PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

The Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has high capacity of biological and ecological adaptation. Fall Armyworm (FAW) can survive on more than 80 plant species, including maize. An attempt made to know the knowledge and factors influencing knowledge of maize farmers on FAW incidence in Davanagere and Shivamogga district of Karnataka in India. The findings of the study revealed that, majority of the farmers in Davanagere district had medium (57.50 %) to high (23.75 %) level of knowledge. whereas knowledge of farmers in Shivamogga district, 43.75 percent had medium knowledge followed by high (28.75 %). When it comes to overall knowledge level of the farmers nearly half of the farmers had medium (44.33 %) level of knowledge and one third of the farmers (33.75 %) had high level of knowledge on FAW. Knowledge index reveal that, FAW activity in different seasons and time was known to 81.09 percent, followed by knowledge about the identification and biology of FAW (49.37%), damaging symptoms of FAW (48.48 %) and Infestation of FAW at different stages of crop growth (47.50 %). Fewer farmers know about Management of Fall Armyworm (24.08 %) Therefore universities should give recent information about knowledge of FAW and imparts skill amongst farmers through trainings and method demonstration. Also, State Agriculture Department should promote and start Farmers Field School (FFS) regarding FAW on Maize.