12 radio stations gang up against fall armyworms
Farm Radio Trust (FRT), an organization that fosters rural and agricultural development in Malawi through the use of radio and other information and communications technologies (ICTs), is working with 12 radio stations in the country to spread massages aimed at fighting fall armyworms.
Through the project called armyworm participatory radio and ICT campaign, FRT has so far reached out to 1 million farmers sensitizing them to how they can deal with army worms.
Speaking in an interview during the 14th National Agriculture Fair last week, FRT Executive Director Rex Nampota said despite that the attack is mainly in 20 districts of the country, the campaign is targeting all 28 districts.
Said Nampota: “Aside from radio programmes, we have also come up with hot lines, 7111 for TNM and 8111 for Airtel subscribers where farmers will be able to speak to extension workers and alert them of any outbreak of fall armyworms in their areas.”
Seed Co Limited senior agronomist Victor Luhanga has since advised all farmers to control fall armyworms by among others planting early, ensuring plants are sprayed with chemicals as early as attacks are noticed and continuously scout for pests.
Luhanga also encouraged farmers to plant hybrid variety of maize that mature early in areas prone to severe attacks to escape the pest.
“Spray in the evening since the pest is active and feeds at night. This will make the chemicals work better for a better result,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Fall armyworms attacked 140 000 hectares during the 2016/2017 farming season.
Fall armyworms destroy different types of crops in the grass family and, if left untreated, they can reduce yields by more than 73 percent.
Development partners have pumped in about K500 million to control fall armyworms that have mostly affected districts such as Rumphi, Ntcheu, Blantyre, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Neno, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Mangochi, Balaka, Lilongwe, Dedza, Kasungu, Dowa, Mchinji, Mzimba, Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhotakota and Salima.
