Army worms hit Zomba District

An army worm outbreak has been reported in some areas of Zomba mainly under Mpokwa Extension Planning Area (EPA).

District agriculture development officer (Dado) Patterson Kandoje said the outbreak has occurred in Mpokwa EPA, in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwambo in the villages of Saiti, Masambuka, Kwaitana, Mamphanda, Kabwere, Kumpatsa, Havala, Mlomwa and Chaima.

He said 34 hectares have been affected by the army worms, locally known as ntchemberezandonda, adding that maize is mainly affected by the caterpillars.

Kandoje said his office has managed to spray only six hectares with cypermethrin, saying the spraying exercise is still continuing to control the spread to other areas.

He further asked farmers to report to the nearest agriculture office or agriculture extension officers if they see the caterpillars destroying their maize.

“They are dark green with whitish stripes on their backs and they move in colonies. They only eat maize and grass which is in the same family with maize. These will continue if not controlled as long as the dry spells continue,” Kandoje warned.

He also pointed out that some village heads were refusing the chemical spraying exercise, saying they can control the outbreak by traditional methods which he says will lead to greater losses.

Zomba District is facing several other challenges such as the dry spell that is posing a threat to crops, strong wind that swept roofs of houses in many areas and a cholera outbreak at Kachulu.