The County government of Elgeyo Marakwet, in Kenya is set to start distributing pesticides to farmers following an invasion of army worms in various parts of the County.
The County Chief Officer in the Department of Agriculture and Irrigation Timothy Kiptum said the national government through the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (Kephis) will supply pesticides to all counties affected by the destructive pests.
“The plant inspectorate department in the national government is going to offer pesticides as soon as the extent of the damage is established by the ward agricultural officers,” he said.
Prevention and early diagnosis,
As part of prevention and early diagnosis, the CO said that the county agriculture department was in the process of establishing plant clinics that will enable farmers to identify these kinds of worms immediately they start attacking crops to prevent their spread and losses.
The Chief Officer expressed concern that if the infestation continues it is likely to affect yield this year. The situation comes after farmers in parts of Soy South and Sambirir wards reported the invasion of their crops by the fall army worms. The farmers from the areas of Chepsigot in Keiyo South have lamented over the loss of acres of crops to the fall army worms reported early this week.
“These fall army worms have destroyed maize crops and grass in the farm as it has covering up to twenty acres and destroys up to half an acre each hour,” he said.
