09 Jan 2025

 Farmers  in the North West region have been advised to report any suspicion of pests invading fields as early as possible for the department to investigate.

In an interview, senior agricultural scientific officer from the plant health department in the North West region, Mr Akosembe Mandevu said this would give the office time to investigate and provide expert advice on the control of such pests.

He said on Tuesday, they carried out investigations in six fields in Shorobe following suspicion of armyworm invasion. He said out of six fields, only two had traces of Fall armyworm, Semi-loper and Salk borer pests.

Mr Mandevu explained that the Fall armyworm and other detected pests were manageable pests hence farmers were only given expert advice by the department to manage the pest.

He said Fall armyworm, Stalk borer and Semi-loper were a farmer’s responsibility to manage. Mr Mandevu however said African armyworm, Locusts and Qualea birds on one hand were national pests since they were migratory pests with large scale negative impacts on farm lands, hence government responsibility once their outbreak was detected. ENDS