Posted on March, 16, 2017 at 10:52 am
LARVAE specie—‘stalk borers’ has invaded and damaged hundreds of acres of maize and sorghum farms in Busega District, Simiyu Region and part of Tarime District in Mara Region.
The armyworms have caused a serious damage to the maize plants in Busega District whereas more than 111 farms have been completely destroyed in Sanga village.
Farmers claimed to have used all the types of insecticides to kill them but yet the stalk borers have widely spread to nearly all the farms in the village. They said the pests can damage a single acre of maize in between four and five days.
A villager, Dalai Kaloya (58) complained to have incurred a huge loss as his four acres of maize and five acres of sorghum have been damaged by the insects. He implored the government to assist them with proper insecticides so that they can kill the pests and replant the farms before the rains end.
Julius Nestory who is the chairman of Sanga village, said the government should take immediate measures to control the worms since they pose a hunger threat to the people of Busega District.
For his part, Ngasamo Ward Councilor Isack Lugembe, appealed to the district agricultural officers to evaluate the situation and come up with a solution as farmers have lost hope. He said since some farmers are trying to fight the stalk borers by spraying traditionally made insecticides, there is a need to educate and provide them with proper pesticides.
The district’s agriculture, irrigation and cooperative Officer, Juma Chacha confirmed the armyworms invasion into maize farms, insisting to have started educating farmers on how to kill them.
Chacha described the pest as the most dangerous for maize and sorghum plants. He said apart from Sanga village the maize killer insects have also invaded farms in Maili and Nyaruanda wards.
Meanwhile, in Tarime District, the agricultural officer who is also the acting district director, Perajia Joel urged the villagers to properly use the distributed pesticides by spraying the farms. He also told them to apply traditional methods by putting sand and ashes across the maize strains.
According to Joel they have deported 26 extension officers to the villages in the district. He said the officials are helping farmers to spray their farms.
He said the stalk barer worms have damaged farms in Nyarero, Kemakorere, Nyamwaga, Gamasara , Buhemba , Bumera , Kiongera and Tagota villages. He advised farmers to use the recommended pesticides as they are all available in agrovet shops.
Source: IPP Media