‘SENA DALAMBUWA’ AFFECTS VAST AREAS OF CULTIVATION

Apest caused by a worm identified as Fall Army Worm or Sena Dalambuwa as known among the farmers, has destroyed paddy, maize and vegetable cultivation in several districts. The worst affected areas were the Anuradhapura, Ampara, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts while its spread in other areas have been minimum.

Farmers in the Kalpitiya area said the pest has been spreading in the Puttalam district for the last two weeks and had affected vast areas of cultivated land.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Services have taken steps to bring the pest under control. A senior official of the ministry said about 100 crops including paddy and vegetables in several districts had been destroyed by the Fall Army Worm. He said paddy, maize and sugarcane were the most vulnerable to the pest.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the ministry decided to grant subsidies to cover 50 percent of the

The ministry decided to grant subsidies to cover 50 percent of the expenses on insecticides to bring the pest under control

expenses on insecticides to bring the pest under control.

He said the Department of Agriculture had recommended the chemicals that should be used and that the ministry made an allocation of Rs.50 million to spray insecticides.

He instructed the officials to carry on research to find other effective methods to bring the pest under control.