Technical team assembled to deal with African armyworm outbreak
MEC Nomakhosazana Meth demonstrating the use of the backpack sprayers.
THE Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has swiftly reacted to the outbreak of the African armyworms that pose a threat on the province’s food security.
The department responsible for sustainable food production recently distributed insecticides to farmers in Fairban Village in Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality under the Amatole District. The insecticides were accompanied by backpack and boom sprayers mounted to three tractors to fumigate a farmland of more than 400 hectares. The department has roped in youth to help in the eradication of the worms.
Armyworms attack leaves of plants mostly in the grass family which include maize, lurcene, sorghum and pasture. Because of the deadly cyanide poison that is associated with the armyworms, livestock that has fed or feeds on pastures infested with the worms are at a risk of dying. Among the symptoms of an animal that has fed on contaminated feed are swelling, twitching, and bloated stomach that lead to death. So far four animals –goats and cattle- have died in the area as a result of the armyworms.
One of the farmers who grow animal feed in Fairban Village, Nobuntu Mbi (54) said they found out about the armyworm in their field on March 31 and immediately reported to the department.
Mbi is a member of a co-op that produces and sells livestock feed across the Eastern Cape Province.
“We had to act fast so we can save the feed we are growing at the farm. And the worms came at a time where were preparing to harvest,” she said.
MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Nomakhosazana Meth said her department has activated a technical team to arrest the outbreak. The known affected regions are Amatole and Alfred Nzo.
She said in spite of the novel coronavirus that has forced the country into a lockdown to help curb the spread of the virus, the country still needs to be fed and the African armyworm is a threat to food production.
“The country needs food even if we are on a lockdown. It is for that reason that we had to make ways to deal with the situation before it worsens our problems. But we have a group of highly qualified experts to deal with such situations,” said Meth.
She also encouraged farmers to report any cases of the worm so it can be attended to before it spirals out of control.
COVID-19
During her visit in Fairban Village, Meth also seized the moment to educate locals about the coronavirus. She visited two bereaved families who are scheduled to hold funeral services this month where she distributed hand sanitizers and also sensitized the mourners on how the virus was spread and how they could best curb the spread of the virus.