Fall army worms continue damaging crops in Malawi

Circle for Integrated Community Development CICCOD has donated pesticides of fall army worms in Dowa.

Programs manager for CICCOD Edward Thole said 300 bottles of Sulban and 10 sprayers have been distributed to 5 group village heads under TA Mkukula.

Thole said the chiefs had asked his organisation to consider them with pesticides hence sourcing funds for the sprayers and the chemicals worth 1.5 million kwacha.

Speaking during the presentation of the pesticides programs manager for CICCOD Edward Thole urged the farmers to buy additional chemicals.

Thole said objectives of his organisation cannot be achieved if crops are attacked by fall army worms.

Early January, 2018 CICCOD also donated maize and soya beans to the areas which were affected by the pest,” he said.

He said the donation is enough for only 250 hectares of land.

In her remarks Dowa district Crop Officer Chifundo Mpola said there is need to find ways of mitigating effects of fall army worms.

Mpola urged farmers to change the pesticides after a certain period because it has been discovered that they become resistant to the chemicals.

She said “CICCOD must be commended for complimenting government effort of achieving food security.”

Group village headman Chivala thanked the group for responding to their appeal.

He assured CICCOD that farmers will take care of the sprayers and the pesticides.