Tanzania faces food shortages due to pests

ARUSHA, Tanzania: There is a possibility of poor crop harvests in Tanzania at the end of this farming season due to the invasion of plant pests, mostly armyworm and Quelea Quelea, and floods in some parts of the east African nation.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, the situation is likely to cause a food deficit in the regions of Njombe, Tabora, Singida and Manyara as floods have destroyed infrastructure such as roads and farms. The floods also destroyed irrigation schemes in the western region of Katavi.

Mathew Mtigumwe, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, said the government was aware of the presence of a new species of armyworm that was believed to have entered Rukwa Region via neighbouring Zambia.

He said 15 000 litres of pesticide had already been procured to curb the threat. “We have had to bring in new pesticides,” he said. – Xinhua