Maize farmers in the Brong Ahafo Region are counting losses after fall army worms invaded their farms – laying waste to thousands of hectares of maize crops.
Unlike the maize stem borer, the fall army worm multiplies highly and spreads very fast like bush fire once it gets into the garden.
Across the length and breadth of the region, the maize farmers are complaining bitterly concerning the situation.
Some of the affected places in the region include; Wenchi, Nkoranza, Kintampo, Banda, Tain, Brekum, Dormaa Ahenkro, Atebubu, Kwame Danso, Yeji, and Nkrakwanta.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Agric Director, Dr Cyril Quist, in an interview with Adom News’ Koofori Bossu Denkye said the situation was worrying as the worms have spread to most maize farms in the region and asked the farmers to contact their district MOFA directorates for assistance.
Mr. Quist continued that, government is doing well to help farmers who are encountering such situation with pesticides to control the fall armyworms with the help of the experts from the MOFA.
“Efforts to mitigate the spread of the pests and laying of eggs on farms have been hampered and I will urge the farmers to walk in their various farms to monitor as to how the farm is doing” he said.
He explained that the worms have spread in most of the region, causing concern among farmers.
The fall armyworm caterpillars are green, brown, or black in colour, depending on the stage of development.
Dr Quist then urged the affected farmers to go to their various district MOFA offices for the pesticides for free.