Impact of Invasive Fall Army Worm on Maize Yield and Return Pattern in India: A Comprehensive Analysis

A study was conducted from 2018 to 2022 to investigate the impact of fall armyworm (FAW) invasion on maize cultivation in Karnataka, India. The financial implications and determinants of maize productivity were also determined. Following FAW invasion, cost of cultivation rose significantly to Rs. 69,747 compared to previous year cost of cultivation Rs.63,283 in absence of FAW, attributed to increased expenses on plant protection chemicals, labor, and fertilizer. Plant protection costs at Rs. 3,450 skyrocketed post FAW invasion compared to Rs. 329 before invasion. Whereas non managed fields had a total cost of Rs 61,760. The findings revealed that FAW caused substantial significant yield reduction of 4.14 q/ha in managed fields and 21.74 q/ha in non-managed fields when compared with yield of 49.54 q/ha prior to invasion. The cost of production found to be substantially high (Rs.2,222/q) after FAW invasion in non-managed fields and managed fields (Rs.1,536/q) when compared to prior FAW (Rs.1,277/q). The farmers in study area could able to realize higher returns per rupee of expenditure (1.54) prior to FAW when compared with after FAW invasion with management (1.28) and without management (0.89). The net profit margin of maize cultivation in the study area prior to FAW invasion stood at 35.19 per cent compared to 22.06 per cent after Fall Armyworm invasion with management and -11.71 per cent, without management practices, respectively. The results also revealed net financial impact of FAW invasion on maize cultivation, at Rs. -13,472/ha post invasion even after employing management practices and positive net financial impact of Rs. 26,987.50/ha for implementing FAW management measures when compared with non-managed fields post invasion. The relation between rainfall and productivity was statistically significant at one per cent level of probability with co-efficient value of 1.72. The coefficient value associated with the infestation event (-406.81) was found to be high, indicating a potentially strong relationship between productivity and infestation event.