Potential Environmental Risks During Fall Armyworm Management Strategies by Gender in Bomet County, Kenya

Zilpher A. Nyakwara, Wilkister N. Moturi, Ruth C. Mutai

Abstract: Advent and meteoric rise from the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E Smith) as an invasive pest within Africa possess grave implications to smallholder agriculturalists with reference to potential environmental risks and perceived human ill - health leading to household food insecurity. In Kenya, the first FAW invasion detection reported in Bomet County in 2016 prompted the indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides that could undermine the environment, human health and food security. Based on gender disparities through food supply network, FAW invasion can obstruct the accomplishment of households? nutrition security with environmental unsustainability. The analysis of data used descriptive statistics. The results showed FAW management practices that were likely to lead to environmental risks and perceived ill health related to chemical use with either male or female farmers being the primary chemical handlers. There is need for research and service providers to create awareness for farmers on better FAW mitigation strategies mainly on the use of chemicals that are more biodegradable and less polluting to the environment. Increasing awareness creation on FAW practices that are less likely to enhance occupational exposures to pesticides and to family members.

Keywords: fall armyworm, invasive pest, environmental risks, food insecurity, synthetic insecticides