Nigeria: Jigawa Farmers Count Losses As Armyworm Destroys 790 Hectares of Farmlands

What the report says

Farmers in Birniwa Local Government Area of Jigawa State, northwestern Nigeria, are reporting heavy losses after an armyworm infestation damaged farmland during the 2026 planting season, according to Daily Trust, republished by AllAfrica. The article says the outbreak affected about 790 hectares and hit mainly bean and sesame farms, leaving growers worried about how to recover their investments and support their households.

Several farmers described steep crop losses. Yusuf Abdullahi said most of his bean crop was destroyed after he planted about six mudus of beans and expected a much larger harvest. Others, including Abba Ibrahim, Kadai Yarda, Sama'ila Muhammad Dalari, Haruna Maidugu, Adamu Aminu Malindi and Iliyasu Abdullahi Gomari, also reported losses ranging from a few bags of beans to much larger quantities, along with damage to sesame. For many of them, the crops were meant to cover food needs, school fees, medical bills and other family expenses.

The Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency said it learned of the outbreak through field extension agents and local leaders, then sent a technical team to assess the damage and profile affected farmers. The agency said it also provided agrochemicals and technical advice. Local authorities in Birniwa likewise distributed pesticides and guidance. The article says farmers are awaiting further support after the assessment.

A university expert quoted in the report said armyworms can spread quickly and severely reduce yields if not controlled early. The article also places the outbreak in a broader context of weather variability and pest risk, while noting common management steps such as early monitoring, weed control, and approved biological or chemical treatments.