Farmers urged to scout for armyworms
FARMERS need to continue focusing on good agronomic practices with special emphasis on pest and weed control while taking advantage of existing technology to maximise production, productivity and profitability since farming is a business.
Principal Research Officer in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development under the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds and Remedies Institute, Mr Kenneth Chipere warned farmers against the use of Dimethoate40EC to control armyworms.
He said there were other products like Voltstar, Nemesi and Dash, among others which are more effective.
Diamathoate is a systemic and contact insecticide used best in controlling sucking pests like mites, aphids and flies.
Manicaland Provincial Agriculture Advisory and Rural Development Services (AARDS) director, Mrs Phillipa Rwambiwa said the scouting of both fall armyworm and African fall armyworm should be carried out before crop damage, looking for eggs as these show impending danger.
The six top leaves around plant funnels should be routinely checked for fall armyworm eggs.
“Religious scouting from the onset is the best practice. There is no time to relax for maize, sorghum and millet farmers as heavy infestations are being recorded,” she said.
Mrs Rwambiwa said fall armyworm is a devastating pest on maize and if left uncontrolled will fully establish and continue to cause crop losses because of the suitability of the province’s climate for the pest’s growth and development.
“The African armyworm is a devastating and most destructive pest to cereal crops. It feeds on leaves, growing points and young stems. They move in large numbers, and its feeding can result in total destruction of the plant to ground level. Farmers should be on the guard.
“They should be proactive because its short life cycle, ability to travel across large geographical areas, and its wide host range promote its rapid multiplication, thereby making it difficult to control.
“Scouting is key as it forewarns farmers to take timely action. Remember, the larval stage at which control measures are taken is critical to the success of control,” she said.
Mrs Rwambiwa said the El-Nino phenomena this season has shown the importance of agro-ecological tailoring, correct crop sustainability selection and matching, and climate proofing through Pfumvudza/ Intwasa.
This, she said, improves production and productivity, adding that crop/livestock diversification is key to climate change adaptation and resilience building.
Mrs Rwambiwa also said abuse of farming inputs is an offence, adding that the Agriculture Ministry, in collaboration with law enforcement agents and other stakeholders, are cracking down on those involved in the illicit sales.
She said perpetrators will face prosecution.
Mrs Rwambiwa also said irrigation plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security in the nation and challenged the private sector to compliment Government’s efforts by investing in irrigation, developing green belts, and utilising dams and other water bodies.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive secretary, Mr Paul Zakaria has urged farmers to rely on reputable sources of weather information for them to make timeous and accurate farming decisions.
Mr Zakaria said the 2023/24 farming season has been predicted to be a lean season characterised by the El Nino effect and encouraged farmers to use farming techniques that protect their crops.
He also encouraged farmers to look for long-term drought solutions.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department on Tuesday warned that scattered showers are being expected over the northern half of the country, that is over Matabeleland North, all Mashonaland provinces, Harare Metropolitan as well as the northern parts of Midlands and Manicaland.
The southern parts (Bulawayo
Metropolitan, Matabeleland South as well as the southern parts of Midlands and Manicaland) should be partly cloudy with high temperatures. Isolated showers are also probable in some areas.
As of January 22, 2024, the country had successfully planted a total of 11 932 505 Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots, with maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpeas, and sunflower, equivalent to 744 588 hectares.
Manicaland surpassed its Pfumvudza target by about 200 000 plots, amid revelations that 1 681 989 plots had already been prepared against a set target of 1 446 588 plots.
Manicaland has 485 000 beneficiaries under the Government-sponsored programme, with each getting a full basket of agro-region specific inputs.