Gwembe receives army worm chemicals

GWEMBE District has received 500 litres of deltamethrin, a chemical used for spraying to contain arm worms which have invaded the area and are damaging maize fields.

Gwembe District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Imbuwa Mushebwa says farmers should therefore not panic as government is responding to the situation.

Mr. Mushebwa disclosed this to ZANIS

Gwembe on Thursday.

Mr. Mushebwa said there are sporadic cases of damaged maize fields in the district.

"The district has received 500 litres of the chemical and farmers should not panic because Gwembe has sporadic cases of damage," he said.

He disclosed that the central part is hit but advised farmers in the district to take precautions before the pest could spread to the other areas.

The DACO further disclosed that Agricultural Camp Extension Officers in his ministry are helping farmers to spray their fields in an effort to contain the armyworms that are causing havoc to the crops.

"Experts are currently visiting different fields, assessing the damage caused by the pest and monitoring the spraying process.

In the meantime, maize farmers are advised to start re-planting their fields with early-maturing seed as the district is experiencing enough rainfall," he said.

Mr. Mushebwa however, appealed to farmers in the district to report any suspicious worms in their fields to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The DACO dismissed reports of hunger in this year's farming season in all the three Agricultural Blocks and 15 Camps Gwembe brags off. in an interview in