Body battles army worms to boost farmers’ incomes, food insecurity

The African Women in Agriculture Research and Development (AWARD) is fighting Fall Armyworms to raise farmers’ incomes and boost food security in Nigeria and 10 other countries affected by climate change and pest infestation.
 
Launching the AWARD agricultural research storytelling in Nairobi, Kenya, Bolarinwa Folashade, of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUT), Ogbomoso, disclosed: “We’re to indulge the audience in captivating personal stories on crop scientists’ quest to control the stubborn Fall Armyworm in Malawi to young researchers’ connection.
 
According to her, the connections are in the relationship between fertile soil and the ongoing climate change in 11 African countries, including Nigeria and Kenya.
 

Besides, she added that empowerment could also alleviate poverty among the small-scale farming communities in African.

She said: “The goal of this research is to help farmers extend their food products’ shelf life, particularly fruits and vegetables.
 
“The most exciting focus of my research is dealing with the health of coastal waters,” warning that it was revealing to discover heavy metals in our ecosystem.
 
Folashade, therefore, assured AWARD that she is working hard to provide solutions to climate change in the affected countries.
 
According to her, the fellowship is a $20 million initiative by AWARD and Agropolis Foundation, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union, Canada’s International Development Research Centre.