Govt spends over K20 million to control Army Worms

Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya

Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya

Government has so far spent close to 20 million kwacha in response to the army worm that broke out in the country last month.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya says the 20 million kwacha has been spent on procuring the pesticides, the gumboots and the general administration to manage the attack.

Ms Siliya notes that at the moment, about 10% of the hectarete which is about one hundred and twenty four thousand hectares are the ones that have been attacked.

Mr. Siliya points out that despite the attack, the country is still food secure because it is only about 10% that is attacked compared to the hectares under cultivation.

She says government’s response to the attacks has been immediate and targeted but that the country can still learn lessons from the attack such as investing in extension services.

Ms. Siliya further states that government will begin to distribute early maturing seeds to those affected so as to cover up.

And Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Patrick Kangwa says there is much more awareness on the army worms now which has resulted in more farmers reporting the cases.

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