Harare, (New Ziana) –Farmers throughout the country are being urged to be on the lookout for the African armyworm following the discovery of a number of moth catchs in some regions in December last year.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development issued the warning in a public notice, saying prompt action is crucial to safeguard crops from the severe impacts of the African armyworm.
It urged farmers to report any suspected infestations immediately to their nearest AGRITEX officers or the Migratory Pests Control Department for prompt action to be taken to destroy them.
Farmers in Gokwe South (Midlands), Umguza (Matabeleland North), Rushinga, Mt. Darwin, Mushumbi Pools, and Shamva (Mashonaland Central) have been encouraged to regularly inspect their crop fields and pastures for African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) caterpillars, which can devastate cereal crops such as maize, sorghum, and millets.
The African armyworm is the caterpillar or larval stage of the moth that is one of the most devastating crop pests south of the Sahara. They voraciously feed on maize, wheat, sorghum, millet, rice, and pasture grasses.
The larvae often exhibit marching behavior when traveling to feeding sites, leading to the common name “armyworm”.
New Ziana
