Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Vatimi Rayalu, has emphasized the urgent need for nationwide cooperation in addressing the ongoing outbreak of the Fall Armyworm, which poses a significant threat to agricultural production in Fiji. During his recent visit to affected farms in Nadi, he noted that the pest, first identified in April 2025, has the potential to jeopardize food security, farmer livelihoods, and overall national economic growth.
“The Fall Armyworm is an enemy to Fiji’s agricultural production,” he stated, urging farmers across the nation to remain vigilant and to quickly report any signs of infestation. The Minister highlighted that the pest can infest over 80 different plant species, making it a formidable adversary in the agricultural sector.
In response to this alarming situation, the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) has mobilized 17 incident management teams throughout the country, focusing particularly on maize farms in Uciwai, where the outbreak was first confirmed. This coordinated effort includes rigorous field monitoring and extensive pest control measures involving multiple insecticides deployed in a rotational manner to mitigate the risk of the pest developing resistance.
Dr. Shalendra Prasad, the Ministry’s Director of Research, affirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing educational resources for farmers about the Fall Armyworm and its impact. He emphasized the importance of proactive community engagement and encouraged farmers to familiarize themselves with the signs of infestation, which might include caterpillars with a distinctive inverted “Y” marking on their heads and visible damage to crops.
The situation reflects a collective commitment to safeguarding Fiji’s agricultural landscape, mirroring past responses to other agricultural challenges. Authorities are hopeful that with continued vigilance and collaboration among farmers, local communities, and government agencies, Fiji can effectively combat the Fall Armyworm outbreak and ensure food security for its citizens.
These combined efforts underscore the strength and resilience of Fiji’s agricultural sector, highlighting the potential for a cooperative, community-driven approach to overcome this obstacle. The proactive stance taken by the government and related bodies showcases a hopeful outlook for the future stability of the nation’s agricultural economy.
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