Story by Tendai Munengwa
AN outbreak of the fall armyworm has hit the country, with farmers being implored to follow the prescribed pest control measures.
Associated with the summer cropping season, the African worm and fall armyworm have been detected in some parts of the country.
“I have different small fields where I usually get two tonnes, but this time around the outbreak of this fall armyworm is bad. We need pesticides if possible,” said a farmer in Harare.
“I am now looking for pesticides, I spent three days not coming but this is the situation,” added another.
Chief agronomist, Mr Ivan Craig says the best solution to the fall arm wormy menace is for farmers to use preventive measures.
“Scouting for the fall armyworm and religiously spraying to prevent the outbreak rather than waiting until it is too late is the way to go. The pest can be managed at stages one up to three, the moment it gets to four and five it will be difficult so farmers must be on the lookout,” he said.
The destructive pest can cause extensive crop losses of up to 73 percent, depending on existing conditions and is difficult to control with a single type of pesticide, especially whena it has reached the advanced larval development stage.
