SADC must intervene in armyworm outbreak
The minister of agriculture has called for a regional response to an outbreak of fall armyworm which is devastating crops in Namibia and five other SADC countries.
Agriculture minister John Mutorwa has urged SADC to urgently intervene and assist countries that are facing an armyworm outbreak that is devastating crops in Namibia and other Southern African countries.
The outbreak of fall armyworm - an invasive Latin American species that is harder to detect than African armyworm - erupted in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia following rains that broke a four-year drought.
The pest is likely to have been in the region for five or more years, but because of the drought and other factors it did not manifest.
In Namibia the outbreak started in January at some of the country's largest irrigation schemes. It is estimated to have cost the country more than N$20 million so far.
The areas affected most were Omusati and Ohangwena in the north, as well as Kavango East and West. The worms have now spread to the Zambezi Region and the Maize Triangle further south.
The agriculture ministry identified the caterpillar species as fall armyworm, bollworm and maize stalk borer.
Bollworm destroys the maize cobs, while armyworm devours foliage. Stalk borer is common in Namibia and destroys some of the young crops.
“As if the drought was not devastatingly serious enough, our country and also other countries in SADC are facing the wrath of the worms that are devouring our crops,” Mutorwa said yesterday.
He said since the caterpillars had invaded a number of SADC countries it was important to coordinate a regional response.
Mutorwa said SADC last year made its voice heard with regard to the drought and therefore it could not be quiet now.
He called upon the ministry's staff to intensify their efforts to help crop farmers.
The ministry's Plant Health Division and regional extension offices are supplying pesticides and equipment for spraying the affected fields.
Farmers are also advised to dig deep trenches around their fields to stop the pests from spreading.
“In case of low pest populations and farmers with relatively small plots, the hand-picking of caterpillars is advised,” Mutorwa said.
Mutorwa said 2016 was a most difficult year for the agricultural and water sector because of the most severe drought in memory.
He added that storage dams were still dangerously low despite the rain that some parts of the country had received.
He said all drought-relief and water-supply programmes must continue as long as funds permit.
“The alternative is too ghastly to contemplate.”
ELLANIE SMIT
The outbreak of fall armyworm - an invasive Latin American species that is harder to detect than African armyworm - erupted in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia following rains that broke a four-year drought.
The pest is likely to have been in the region for five or more years, but because of the drought and other factors it did not manifest.
In Namibia the outbreak started in January at some of the country's largest irrigation schemes. It is estimated to have cost the country more than N$20 million so far.
The areas affected most were Omusati and Ohangwena in the north, as well as Kavango East and West. The worms have now spread to the Zambezi Region and the Maize Triangle further south.
The agriculture ministry identified the caterpillar species as fall armyworm, bollworm and maize stalk borer.
Bollworm destroys the maize cobs, while armyworm devours foliage. Stalk borer is common in Namibia and destroys some of the young crops.
“As if the drought was not devastatingly serious enough, our country and also other countries in SADC are facing the wrath of the worms that are devouring our crops,” Mutorwa said yesterday.
He said since the caterpillars had invaded a number of SADC countries it was important to coordinate a regional response.
Mutorwa said SADC last year made its voice heard with regard to the drought and therefore it could not be quiet now.
He called upon the ministry's staff to intensify their efforts to help crop farmers.
The ministry's Plant Health Division and regional extension offices are supplying pesticides and equipment for spraying the affected fields.
Farmers are also advised to dig deep trenches around their fields to stop the pests from spreading.
“In case of low pest populations and farmers with relatively small plots, the hand-picking of caterpillars is advised,” Mutorwa said.
Mutorwa said 2016 was a most difficult year for the agricultural and water sector because of the most severe drought in memory.
He added that storage dams were still dangerously low despite the rain that some parts of the country had received.
He said all drought-relief and water-supply programmes must continue as long as funds permit.
“The alternative is too ghastly to contemplate.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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