- Title: Destructive armyworms march into Kenyan maize fields.
- Date: 10th April 2017
- Summary: TRANS-NZOIA, KENYA (APRIL 08, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAIZE CROP IN FIELD VARIOUS OF MAIZE CROP INFESTED WITH ARMYWORMS ARMYWORM ON LEAF VARIOUS OF COUNTY OFFICERS SHOWING FARMERS HOW TO PREPARE PESTICIDE VARIOUS OF FARMER, ELKANA LUNANI, AND WORKER SPRAYING MAIZE CROP (SOUNDBITE) (English) FARMER, ELKANA LUNANI, SAYING: "I have done farming for many years more than 20 years and I have never seen this kind of pest. This is my first time, we have had other pests even the normal army worms we see, those are very easy to control but this one is very difficult to control and the damage for example in the 100 acres of seed maize I have planted, about 50 percent is at stake because the infestation is quite high." (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESEARCH EXTENSION LIASON OFFICER, TRANS-NZOIA COUNTY. MOSES BIKET, SAYING: "One moth is giving rise to 20,000 eggs and which incubate in the soil during the day but it is at night that they come out and forage on these leaves. So farmers when they spray during the day the effect is not being felt because these caterpillars are hiding inside the tunnel of the maize. So you may spray outside and think that you have controlled but inside it has not been reached." VARIOUS OF KENYA AGRICULTURE CABINET SECRETARY, WILLY BETT INSPECTING MAIZE FARM (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYA AGRICULTURE CABINET SECRETARY, WILLY BETT, SAYING: "What we are doing is we are trying to target and make serious intervention in areas where the seed is produced and that is Trans-Nzoia. That is the reason why we have started this program in Trans-Nzoia because the only way to save the future generation of cropping especially with our main staple which is maize is number one host of this pest and being our main staple and what we are seeing now, even with the price of flour, it goes to demonstrate the importance of maize in this country." VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS AT AWARENESS CAMPAIGN MEETING BETT SHOWING RESIDENTS BOOKLETS WITH INFORMATION ON ARMY WORMS ARMYWORM CRAWLING ON BOOKLET PEOPLE LOOKING AT ARMYWORM (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) FARMER, SILAS WAMANYO, SAYING: "Truly, this is the first time the government has acted fast together with the county government to bring for us these chemicals at the right time because this pest to say the truth is very destructive. I want to say personally I have benefited a lot. I thank the national Government and the county Government of Trans-Nzoia for coming together and bringing these chemicals at the time of need." VARIOUS OF COUNTY OFFICERS INSPECTING MAIZE CROP MAIZE COB
- Embargoed: 24th April 2017 15:51
- Keywords: Agriculture Armyworms Maize Crops Farmers Pesticides
- Location: TRANS-NZOIA, KENYA
- City: TRANS-NZOIA, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Commodities Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0016BTFZ2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Kenya is now among a host of African countries battling a crop-destroying caterpillar.
The armyworm has attacked farmlands in parts of the country including the western region of Trans-Nzoia, which forms a significant part of the country's bread-basket.
Some farmers are spraying their crops with pesticides as part of trials in a campaign aimed at stopping the pest that threatens to wipe out the season's crop.
The armyworm destroys young maize plants, attacking their growing points and burrowing into the cobs.
Elkana Lunani says he has already sprayed his 300-acre farm four times. He is now trying out new pesticides recommended by the county government.
"I have done farming for many years more than 20 years and I have never seen this kind of pest. This is my first time, we have had other pests even the normal army worms we see, those are very easy to control but this one is very difficult to control and the damage for example in the 100 acres of seed maize I have planted, about 50 percent is at stake because the infestation is quite high," said Lunani.
"One moth is giving rise to 20,000 eggs and which incubate in the soil during the day but it is at night that they come out and forage on these leaves. So farmers when they spray during the day the effect is not being felt because these caterpillars are hiding inside the tunnel of the maize. So you may spray outside and think that you have controlled but inside it has not been reached," said Trans-Nzoia County research and liaison officer, Moses Biket.
The armyworm, known as "fall armyworm" due to its tendency to migrate in autumn, or fall, is native to North and South America and can devastate maize, a staple crop crucial to food security in large parts of Africa.
Kenya's invasion comes at a time when the country is suffering from a drought that has left about 2.7 million people in need of food aid and driven up inflation to a near-five year high.
The government says it is conducting further investigations on the crop-eating caterpillars and will distribute effective pesticides once trials are completed.
Armyworms have been reported in over 700 hectares of farmland in Trans-Nzoia.
"What we are doing is we are trying to target and make serious intervention in areas where the seed is produced and that is Trans-Nzoia. That is the reason why we have started this program in Trans-Nzoia because the only way to save the future generation of cropping especially with our main staple which is maize is number one host of this pest and being our main staple and what we are seeing now, even with the price of flour, it goes to demonstrate the importance of maize in this country," said Agriculture cabinet secretary, Willy Bett.
Armyworms easily migrate, moving from one agricultural region to another.
Neighbouring Uganda confirmed last month that the pests had attacked crops on farms in about 20 districts in the country, heightening concerns that they could spread into Kenya.
Emergency campaigns are being held to educate farmers on how to identify the pest.
"Truly, this is the first time the government has acted fast together with the county government to bring for us these chemicals at the right time because this pest to say the truth is very destructive. I want to say personally I have benefited a lot. I thank the national government and the county Government of Trans-Nzoia for coming together and bringing these chemicals at the time of need," said Silas Wamanyo, a farmer.
Scientists tracking the crop-destroying caterpillar said in February that it was spreading rapidly across mainland Africa and could reach tropical Asia and the Mediterranean in the next few years, threatening agricultural trade. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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