The Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Zachariah Fuseini, has assured affected districts and farmers of the department’s readiness to assist them in fighting the infestation of fall armyworms. According to the director, the department has taken stock of the necessary logistics, including chemical materials and human resources, to combat any reported cases of fall armyworms in the region.
“Of course, issues of armyworms have not started today, and I know that the majority of farmers are aware of that. So, all that I’m saying is we at the office have received chemicals to support the farmers to fight these insects. And some of our officers have begun educating some of the farmers on how and when to separate their farmlands to get rid of the insects.”
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Fuseini indicated that the infestation of armyworms was not new to farmers in the region hence farmers should not be alarmed as the matter was under control.
“Things are under control because the chemicals we have now are for free as the government has already purchased them for Ghanaian farmers. So, you [extension officer] will be arrested if caught selling or doing anything in contrast to what the Agric department has directed.”
According to the director, three districts such as Builsa South, Nabdam, and Kassena Nankana Municipal were reported to have records of the armyworms.
He explained that chemicals had been made available to combat the worms. Meanwhile some of the farmers who spoke to our reporter indicated that they have begun counting their losses due to the invasion of fall armyworms.
One of them who spoke to our reporter said “I for one don’t know what to do again, because I have sprayed my crops not once but twice yet they [armyworms] are still there. So, what can I do again?”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
