Publication date: Thursday, 11th March, 2010
By Michael Karugaba
ARMY worms have invaded Kasese district and destroyed several gardens of crops, a senior agriculture officer has said.
Charles Nyamutale, the plant protection officer, named Mubuku Prison as one of the affected areas, with over 200 acres of maize destroyed.
“Our office is in touch with farmers urging them to be on the alert,” he said.
Other affected areas included Mubuku parish, Maliba sub-county and Busongora county, where over 1,000 acres of maize is under threat.
Nyamutale advised farmers to immediately report further outbreaks of the worms to the district agricultural officer.
He also advised farmers to spray the worms with insecticides. The affected areas are the most productive in the district.
Agriculturalists fear the worms could cause famine if the situation is not contained in time.
The Prisons department will also be affected by the outbreak because it depends on Mubuku and Ibuga farms for maize to feed inmates. The district was last hit by the army worms two years ago.
Army worms are the caterpillar stage of a moth. Their favourite foods are turfgrasses and grains. Cool wet weather helps to increase their number.
The worms can eat everything in an area and once the food supply is exhausted, the entire army moves on to the next available food source.
This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/18/712654
© Copyright 2000-2012 The New Vision. All rights reserved.