The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter
THE battle to eradicate all species of armyworm, among other notorious pests, is still far from over amid revelations of new pests and diseases that are now destroying cotton.
Agriculture Minister, Dr Joseph Made, said all crops – ranging from horticultural ones, cereals and of late the white gold, are under siege from the fall armyworm and diseases that are developing across the country. The fall armyworm is a chronic pest that feeds on a variety of well-fertilised crops such as maize, pearl millet, sorghum and pastures.
Dr Made said if farmers detect little green and brown caterpillars in their fields, then they should know that their crop is under attack from the fall armyworm. If left to multiply, he said, the pest can wipe the entire crop before marching to the next available source of food.
Dr Made said the country was still battling to combat the notorious armyworm species because some farmers applied wrong chemicals which failed to combat the worms. The fall armyworm and the stalk borer have similar eating, damaging and destruction habits, though the fall armyworm can cause extensive destruction than the stalk borer.
“We are not over the hump yet, and farmers should continue scouting their fields. We have a number of pests and diseases developing – the fall armyworm and other pests that virtually feed everything, and of late cotton.
“I am appealing to all extension workers to be on the ground helping farmers to scout their fields. Focus by extension workers should not only be on special projects, but also small farmers because these pests can reside in the crop that is being ignored,” said Dr Made.
“Cotton is under serious threat, and cotton companies should be very careful. They should be on the ground assisting farmers.
“The fall armyworm is a very elusive pest, it appears to be sparing the cotton leaves, and at the same time attacking the balls and flowers,” said Dr Made.
“We should inspect pastures, sugarcane, cotton, vegetables and cabbages, among other crops, for these pests. Let us not think that we are over with that matter – not at all. These pests are elusive and we should be on full alert. Agronomists and pest management specialists should be on the ground helping with scouting.
“Farmers sometimes can be ignorant, and may end up trying different chemicals which may fail to combat the pest, and it may end up developing some resistance. As the media, you should continue disseminating technical information. That story should never be dropped because they are surfacing in cotton,” said Dr Made.
There are five species of armyworms – the fall armyworm, true armyworm, beet armyworm, southern armyworm and yellow-striped armyworm.
Armyworms get their name because they often move in large numbers and in waves as they search for food.
Of these, the beet armyworm is the most devastating, attacking a wide range of crops and pastures. Fall armyworms consume crops and pastures and cause extensive damage through widespread stripping of leaf blades.
Agronomist, Mr Evan William Craig, said: “The chemical must be sprayed slowly and the nozzle should be precisely targeted at the growing funnel. The knap sack nozzle should drop the chemical directly into the funnel. Some farmers are actually using plastic bottles to drip the chemical into the funnel”.
Mr Craig said there were adequate pesticides to combat the pests that farmers can access from reputable suppliers countrywide. Boom sprayers are effective when spraying chemicals which are absorbed in the plant.
When the pest feeds on the leaves, it eats the poison and gets controlled.
Farmers with overhead irrigation can mix chemicals in irrigating water. As they irrigate for long hours with treated water drenches the plant.
