The ministry of Agriculture and its agencies has revealed they are working hard to control an outbreak of the fall army warm that has destroyed maize gardens in different parts of the country.
According to the minister of agriculture Hon. Vincent Ssempijja, their research indicates that 40% of the maize in the country was attacked by the fall army worm, a native of the tropic and subtropical areas of America.
Addressing the press at Uganda media centre this morning, Ssempijja said that the pest was first detected in the three districts of Kayunga, Kasese and Bukedea between May and July 2016. To date, according to the minister, the pest has been confirmed in over 54 districts and continues to spread at a very high rate.
“As an emergency intervention, the ministry of agriculture animal husbandry, industries and fisheries is advising farmers to use a pesticide combination of Lambda-cyhalothrin and Thiamethoxam and Rocket at a rate of 20-30mls in 15-20 litres of water as we explore more sustainable management measures” Hon. Ssempijja said.
He added that communication materials on identification and management of the pest have been developed and shared with all the 116 districts. The pest in Uganda, Zambia estimated a loss of 130,000 hectares of maize to the pest in one season.
Ssempijja also revealed that Zambia spent USD 3Million in an attempt to control the pest, Kenya has set aside USD 1Million for anticipated control of the pest, while Uganda has set aside 4.5Billion Shillings which is currently used to control the fall army worm.
A taskforce has also been formed with representatives from the agriculture ministry, NARO, Private sector, Uganda National Farmers’ Federation, and operation wealth creation. The taskforce has been constituted by the office of the prime minister to develop action plans for effective management of the pest both in short and long term.
Hon. Ssempija also added that a technical committee comprising of NARO and agriculture is in place to guide on implementation of pest outbreak management, while an advisory committee is to be constituted to help in advocacy and lobbying for financial support.