By Tatiana Mhararira
After struggling with the fall army worm in recent years, Zimbabwean farmers were optimistic about a good harvest due to normal to above normal rainfall received this season.
However, their hopes have been dashed by a new invasive pest, the African Army Worm natively known as Mhunduru.
The black worms have been devouring everything green in their path, including pastures thereby threatening the livelihoods of animals as well.
Their destructive power is so intense that wherever they invade, they leave a trail of destruction and can cause up to 70 percent crop loss if left unmanaged, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The fall army worm has already been reported in 22 districts of the country.
Masvingo Provincial Agritex Director Caleb Mahoya said the African army worm was first recorded early February in Chiredzi District eating sugarcane plants at an early stage and went on to spread in all the other seven districts.
Mahoya told TellZim News that the provincial department of agriculture was making efforts to control the spread of the armyworm throughout the province.
“When a report is made and confirmed extension officers from wards get chemicals from the district Grain Marketing Board (GMB) depots or from the department of migratory pests. District offices can supply wards with chemicals for control. Agritex coordinates movement of chemicals and writes letters to GMB.
“Farmers affected by the outbreak are being provided with technical guidance, Agritex is playing a front row by coordinating access of chemicals from different sources such as GMB, Migratory pests department and some private players. In some scenarios farmers are mobilized so that they do contributions to purchase chemicals,” said Mahoya.
Mahoya said the African armyworm will have long term consequences on the province if not controlled.
“The long term consequences of the outbreak on the province include severe crop yield loss hence food insecurity for the communities. In future the outbreak can be mitigated through supply of standby chemicals before onset of season intensifying collaborations with private sector since African armyworm is a notifiable pest,”said Mahoya.
Migratory Pest Control Director in the ministry of agriculture, Shingirai Nyamutukwa said the ministry was increasing chemicals in areas affected by the African armyworm outbreak
“As a Ministry, through the Migratory Pest Department, we are sending more chemicals to areas which were affected most by the armyworm outbreak, chemicals have been there but they need to be added. We are also sending materials for farmers to use during the application of chemicals.
“We also encourage farmers to check in their fields on a daily basis so that we know areas which have been affected and assist them on time with chemicals,” said Nyamutukwa.
In Masvingo, the pest was reported in six out of seven districts and only Chivi has not recorded cases of the African army worm.
