Army worms under control

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 11:27:39 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

THE outbreak of army worms is under control and farmers should no longer panic, acting Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo has said.

Mr Katambo said Government was committed to ensuring that the situation was contained as agriculture was the mainstay of Zambia’s economy.

He urged farmers from around the country to conduct routine checks and spray their fields to ensure total eradication of army worms.

Mr Katambo added that Government had dispatched early maturing seeds for farmers whose entire crops were destroyed.

“As acting Minister of Agriculture, I can confirm that the outbreak of army worms in the country is under control and that farmers and the general public should not panic. Government is on top of things and we have also dispatched seed to farmers whose crops have been destroyed so that they can replant,” Mr Katambo said.

Meanwhile, Siavonga District has received 260 more tins of chemicals to fight army worms.

District commissioner Lovemore Kanyama confirmed that the tins of Vitraat arrived this week.

Mr. Kanyama said the distribution of the chemical was going on in the district.

“Siavonga district has received 260 tins of vVtraat. This is in addition to what we had earlier received. People should not politicize the army worms’ fight,” Mr. Kanyama said.

The district commissioner advised farmers that his office was open including that of the district agriculture co-ordinator (DACO) for technical assistance.

Last week, the Mr Kanyama disclosed that the district has received enough chemicals for fighting the army worm.

Mr. Kanyama refuted claims by UPND Siavonga Member of Parliament Darious Mulunda that the area had allegedly run out of chemicals for fighting army worms.

He advised the parliamentarian to remove politics from the fight against army worms as it was frustrating the efforts of Government to combat the pests.

Mr Kanyama assured the farmers in Siavonga not to be swayed by selfish politicians and ignore them.

Recently, Government through the Ministry of Finance released K30.8 million for eradicating the pesticides and procurement of gumboots, gloves and other materials. Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya disclosed that K20.2 million has so far been utilised on addressing and curbing the pests.