MOVES TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM PEST-AFFECTED MAIZE

The pest was now spreading to tea and vegetable cultivation in the Nuwara Eliya District

The Hatton Dikoya Urban Council has taken steps to protect the consumers from any health hazard from the maize affected by the Fall Army Worm pest ( Sena Dalambuwa). Head PHI of the Urban Council Ramiah Balakrishnan said the pest affected maize was unfit for human consumption.

The PHI said the pest had affected several maize producing districts and that individuals who purchase maize in bulk stocks from suppliers from the affected areas were carrying on the business regardless of its threat to public health. He said the pest was now spreading to tea and vegetable cultivation in the Nuwara Eliya district. “We have ordered all traders to obtain the approval of the UC to sell raw or boiled maize. The stocks would be subject to examination. Sale of maize in several areas in the country was experiencing a sharp drop and the traders who transport bulk stocks of maize were now selling them by roadsides. We have taken steps to prevent the selling of maize in Lorries.” He said

Meanwhile Nuwara Eliya Govt.agent Rohana Pushapakumara has informed the Director General of Agriculture to work out a mechanism to prevent the transport of maize to the livestock farms in view of the impending danger of the pest spreading to vegetable, tea and other crops.