AgBiTech’s Fawligen registered in Sri Lanka to fight fall armyworm

Date:01-08-2020

Sri Lankan farmers will soon get access to a biological tool to manage Fall Armyworm (FAW). FAW is an invasive pest native to the Americas and after spreading across much of the African continent and the Indian sub-continent, it was first found in Sri Lanka in January 2019.

The product is called Fawligen and belongs to the new IRAC mode of action Group 31 (host-specific occluded pathogenic viruses). It contains a nucleopolyhedrovirus specific to the Fall Armyworm pest and underwent multiple regulatory trials and assessments in Sri Lanka in 2019. Fawligen is manufactured by the global leader and innovator in biological pest control, AgBiTech Pty Ltd.

Dr. Shachi Gurumayum, Head of South Asia for AgBiTech said, "Last summer, I visited Sri Lanka to monitor Fawligen trials. The farmer was extremely satisfied when we harvested his field and, today, I am very pleased that Fawligen is registered in Sri Lanka. This is thanks to the work done by local researchers from the Department of Agriculture and various farmers, and the strong support from Baurs and other stakeholders in Sri Lanka. Farmers like Mr. Jayasuriya here now have a safe and viable biological solution to combat Fall Armyworm in this highly biodiverse island nation".