Etunda still under armyworm siege

The Etunda green scheme is still under siege by an invading force of fall armyworms, agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb has confirmed.“The outbreak of fall armyworm was reported during the month of February 2018 at the Etunda green scheme in the Omusati Region, where a total of ten hectares were affected. Pesticides were provided to the affected farmers for spraying and it is ongoing,” the minister said during his recent budget motivation in the National Assembly recently, where he also handed in a technical report.!Naruseb stressed that since last season, maize production in Namibia continued to be affected by fall armyworm. He said the impact was mostly felt at the country's green scheme projects and at dry-land commercial farms, where large amounts of maize is produced.According to him the ministry received N$9 million from the directorate of disaster management during 2017/18 to be used for the control of fall armyworm. The funds were used to procure pheromone lures, spraying equipment, pesticides and protective gear.The division managed to set up 216 pheromone traps in ten crop growing areas (Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, Kunene, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa), as a surveillance mechanism for fall armyworm. He said 1 500 litres of pesticide, 100 units of spraying equipment and 300 pheromone traps were procured by the ministry and distributed to crop growing areas. In addition, 300 posters, 150 leaflets and 200 pamphlets were also distributed to all regions to create awareness and advocacy on fall armyworm identification and management options.A total of 285 extension staff also received training on conservation agriculture, soil sampling, soil analysis and interpretation, the management of fall armyworms, disaster risk management, the effects of fall armyworms on plant health, determining carrying capacity and micro-irrigation.!Naruseb confirmed last month that government had lost approximately N$15.2 million as a result of the fall armyworm outbreak at its main green schemes since late 2016. He said the maize output of the affected green schemes dropped from 17 829 tonnes recorded in 2015/16 to 14 437 tonnes in 2016/17. Outdated drought policy revisedLast week in the National Assembly !Naruseb also said his ministry will finalise its revision of the 1997 National Drought Policy this year and implement the new strategies, among other interventions. He said drought and flood situations are expected in some parts for country this year, however, these occurrences will be fewer than experienced during the 2016/17 rainfall season. The Zambezi and Kunene regions have already experienced flooding in the past few weeks. !Naruseb said his ministry, together with the Office of the Prime Minister and other stakeholders, is prepared to implement drought mitigation, as well as develop new measures to deal with the consequences and effects of drought in the affected areas. He said the ministry is committed to identifying medium to long-term adaptation mechanisms to climate change by finalising the revision of the 1997 National Drought Policy. According to him Namibia continues to be affected by climate change, as a result of late rainfall in some parts and late heavy rains in others, resulting in drought and flood conditions. Overall, the country experienced poor rainfall in the first half of the season (October - December 2017), stretching towards January and February, in most places. As a result, agricultural production as well as water supply is affected. “However, after good rainfall received between March and April, crop harvest and grazing conditions might change for the better.”!Naruseb said some areas in the Zambezi Region were affected by flooding, as a result of river overflow, and crop production in the affected area, including the Kalimbeza rice project, is expected to be low.“With just over a month before winter sets in, crop production is likely to be affected negatively by the weather for the majority of late farmers.” ELLANIE SMIT

Etunda still under armyworm siege

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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Etunda still under armyworm siege

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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