By OLIVER SAMBOKO
RELEASE of K46.575 million by government for army worm eradication is a welcome move as it will help protect fields and secure the country’s food harvest this farming season, the Small farmers development Agency (SAFADA) has said.
On Friday, government through the Ministry Finance released funds to the Ministry of Agriculture, this followed an outbreak of the migratory Fall Army Worms in the country.
The Army Worms have so far destroyed about 331 hectares of maize fields in Mkushi and it is anticipated that the outbreak might spread across the country due to the prevailing climatic conditions.
And SAFADA Executive Director, Boyd Moobwe said following government intervention, the small scale farmers will now channel the resources they had reserved for buying chemicals for spraying, to increase their hectarage.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Mtolo Phiri says eradication and control of army worms will contribute to crop protection and food security in the country.
He said government through his ministry and other relevant authorities, will continue closely monitoring the situation to ensure no crop is wasted.
Mr Phiri said the fall army worm is a serious threat to national food security, and as government, the new dawn administration has strengthened surveillance and other control measures to contain the outbreak of migratory pests and diseases.
“As you may be aware, Zambia in the last 10 years has experienced outbreaks of the fall army worm in seven agricultural seasons,” he said.
He disclosed that in the 2021/2022 farming season, a total of 331 hectares has so far been affected by army worms in central province.
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