Prexea Technologies Advances Sentinel-X Trials Against Fall Armyworm

Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to combat Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), which threatens maize production, through the near completion of field validation trials for Sentinel-X. Prexea Technologies Limited is spearheading this initiative in collaboration with technical stakeholders.

The trials have been conducted in major agro-ecological zones, including Kano, Kaduna, Keffi, and Kwali, with plans for further evaluations in Bauchi, Kwara, and Oyo States. The invasive pest, first identified in Africa in 2016, has caused significant yield losses, with potential annual economic costs to Nigeria's maize sector estimated between US$750 million and US$1.86 billion without effective control measures.

A Green Field Day was recently held in Abuja, allowing stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, to observe field demonstrations and engage with farmers. Mrs. Martha Solomon, General Manager of Prexea Technologies Limited, emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement throughout the validation process.