Kisumu, Kenya - The African armyworms have left a trail of destruction in Kisumu, with maize and sorghum farmers staring at glaring losses this season.
According to Dr. Paul Omanga, the Kisumu County Chief Officer in charge of agriculture, the pests destroyed 10,000 acres of crops and pasture in the area.
The joint effort between the national and county governments to eradicate the pests, along with the ongoing rains, has played a critical role in bringing the situation under control.
"The heavy downpour washed away the armyworms, making it difficult for them to reproduce even in their hideouts," Dr. Omanga explained.
As a result, farmers in the area are expected to harvest just about 40% of the crop, posing a significant threat to food security.
However, the county government, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has distributed free seeds and fertilizer to the farmers to cushion them against the losses.
"We gave out plenty of seeds and fertilizer initially, which we hope they had spared some to help them during this planting season," Dr. Omanga said.
As a long-term measure to contain the menace, Dr. Omanga advised farmers to prepare to counter the trans-boundary pests early enough to avert massive losses.
