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War against armyworms must be intensified
2006-03-07 08:05:00
By Deogratias Mushi
Heavy rains observed in some parts of the country since last week, have restored hope of turning Tanzania green after months of severe drought.
The rains have made peasants prepare their fields ready for planting, thanks to government efforts in the supply of seeds.
Though peasants have the enthusiasm in farming, their efforts might be hampered by inefficient plans to fight armyworms, which have invaded farms, especially in the northern regions.
Two weeks ago, for example, armyworm experts led by national co-ordinator Wilfred Mushobozi predicted a pending invasion of the pests in the northern zone but nothing was done to arrest the situation.
As a result, Mushobozi resigned complaining that he did not get support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Marketing.
Since then, nobody from the ministry (even the minister himself) said anything concerning Mushobozi’s resignation or the steps taken to destroy the pests, which might impede increased food production.
Armyworms are reported to have destroyed farms in Manyara Region, where the press reported last week that a total of 1,651 hectares in Babati district have been left bare of the planted crops.
Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions are now set to be the next target of the pests which were first seen in Gorwa division in Babati district last month.
The area was the first to receive rains after a long dry spell. Babati District Crop Protection Officer, John Maige, confirmed the invasion of the migratory pests in his territory.
Since armyworms follow the trend of rains they may soon invade farms in both regions of Kilimanjaro and Arusha if the government authorities and stakeholders do not take immediate measures.
’’At the moment a total of 1,651 acres of various crops are under serious threat in Gigasi and Kwashi wards of Gorwa division, where the migratory pests have caused mass crop destruction, ’’ says Babati District Agricultural Advisor, Leonard Mawenya.
The, predicted since early January this year, have already destroyed thousands of hectares of crops in parts of southern Tanzania.
Scientists at the National Armyworm Forecasting Services (AFS) Centre at Tengeru recently warned of a looming threat of the pests.
They predicted that billions of armyworms were soon set to invade the northern zone and the invasion was to take place at the beginning of the long rain beginning March 2006.
Normally, the migratory pests — deadly as locusts — follow the rain pattern. In the past three months, they have been moving northwards from southern African countries.
After crossing into Tanzania, they destroyed crops in the south, where they also bred into billions before moving northwards.
The under-staffed Tengeru-based centre is the only armyworm forecasting institute in Africa co-ordinating activities to control the destructive pests in the continent.
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