An armyworm infestation has damaged about 790 hectares of farmland in Birniwa Local Government Area of Nigeria's Jigawa State, destroying crops and leaving hundreds of farmers facing significant losses as authorities mobilise an emergency response.
The pest, locally known as ‘Maremare,’ has particularly affected beans and sesame, with farmers reporting losses ranging from several bags to more than 90% of expected harvests. One farmer said the infestation destroyed most of his bean crop after he had already invested in land preparation, seeds and labour.
The outbreak has so far affected approximately 520 farmers, according to the Jigawa Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA). Communities identified as experiencing significant damage include Gajarma, Dalari, Bursili, Kulawa, Kupsa, Kirya and Korewa.
The impact extends beyond lost farm income. Many affected households depend on their crops for both food and cash, meaning the destruction could reduce household food supplies while leaving farmers without the revenue needed to meet expenses such as education, healthcare and other family obligations.
Jigawa authorities have deployed technical teams to assess the affected farms and profile farmers who have suffered losses. Agrochemicals have also been supplied, while extension officers are providing guidance on pest control and measures to prevent the infestation from spreading to unaffected farms.
Authorities are seeking additional agrochemicals and spraying equipment, while affected farmers have called for government assistance with seeds and other inputs to enable them to recover and replant.
Agricultural experts have warned that armyworms can spread rapidly and cause severe yield losses when crops are attacked during critical stages of development. They have encouraged farmers to increase field surveillance, detect infestations early, and adopt integrated pest-management measures.
NBF Insight
The Jigawa outbreak highlights the vulnerability of smallholder agriculture to sudden pest shocks. For farmers operating with limited financial buffers, losing a crop after investing in land preparation, seed and labour can wipe out an entire production cycle.
The immediate priority is containing the infestation, but the longer-term lesson is the importance of early-warning systems, rapid extension response and accessible crop-protection services. Detecting pest outbreaks before they spread across hundreds of hectares can be considerably less costly than helping farmers recover after crops have already been destroyed.
