Peter Loruk, a farmer in Panyangara sub county kotido district says although the armyworms haven’t destroyed anything yet, he’s worried of planting the only available seeds in the garden because the pest may destroy it yet he doesn’t have any reserve seeds.
Farmers in Kotido district are alarmed by the
invasion of the armyworms which is scaring them from opening up their garden in
this first season of rain.
The farmers in Kotido confirmed that the district
has been affected by the invasion of armyworm, a pest that is causing huge
destruction of crops elsewhere in the country.
URN has learnt that the pest hasn’t destroyed any
garden because the farmers are still clearing their fields, however there are
fears by farmers that it may stay long as it waits for the crops to
germinate.
Peter Loruk a farmer in Panyangara sub county of Kotido district says although the armyworms haven’t destroyed anything yet,
he’s worried of planting the only available seeds in the garden because the
pest may destroy it yet he doesn’t have any reserve seeds.
‘’Because of armyworms I will not cultivate
anything because we have shortage of seeds, and if I don’t cultivate I will not
get what I need to feed my family,’’ Loruk said to describe his Catch-22 situation.
John Bosco Akore, the secretary of Kotido Elders Council, said the armyworms are affecting the farmers who planted crops early
because the pest is eating the crops when they are still at seedling level.
He called upon government to train farmers on how
to manage the crisis because they cannot just sit waiting for it to disappear
yet Karamoja rains are limited.
Akore is worried that the insects may threaten
the food security in the district and Karamoja at large if not responded to quickly.
//cue in ‘’we are heading to another''.....//
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survival.’’//
Paul Komol Lote, the district chairperson Kotido
says that the whole district is affected with Panyangara sub-county being the
most affected, adding that farmers should not worry but instead catch up with
the first rains to cultivate as they wait for government chemicals.
Komol noted that farmers may be worried about
planting crops but they should take advantage of the first rains to plant crops
that can yield faster in order to solve the food crisis in their households.
He observed that the pests have not destroyed
crops because they have invaded at the time farmers were still clearing their
gardens.
//cue in ‘’ we are writing reports to send...//
//cue out ‘’ the effect may not be much.’’//
However, Kennedy Robert Okuda, the district head
of production department acknowledged that they are aware of the problem and
that the district is doing everything to ensure that farmers get rid of this
problematic worm.
Okuda noted that with the heavy
downpour, there are high chances of the armyworms dying and therefore the
farmers should not worry more.
He confirmed to URN on phone that they sent a
team on the ground to ascertain the magnitude of destruction in the fields, then
they write a report to the ministry of agriculture for further management.
//cue in ‘’if you have enough rain those things...//
//cue out ‘’ to be able to pick for us
chemicals.’’//
