The Mountain Journal
The County Government has moved with speed to control the spread
of the African Armyworm that have invaded parts of the county.
Governor Anne Waiguru has said that Kirinyaga is one of the
counties that have been attacked by the African Armyworm, others being the
neighboring Murang’a and Embu Counties as well as Meru and Tharaka Nithi.
Waiguru said that her administration has partnered with the National
Government’s Directorate of Plant Protection in a spraying exercise that began
on Thursday in Mwea constituency.
She noted that the exercise also targets parts of Ndia
constituency while Njukiini ward in Gichugu is also under surveillance for prompt intervention should need arise.
Farmers from the affected areas have hailed the County Government
for the timely intervention, saying it will save their crop from imminent
destruction from armyworms.
Patrick Muriithi, a farmer from Ndaba in Kangai Ward in Mwea, said
that the worms were first spotted while attacking grass before moving in to the
farms attacking crop such as maize and sorghum, noting that were it not for the
swift intervention by the county government, farmers would have lost their harvest.
“We are appreciate the county government’s effort in coming to our
aid and educating us on how we will use the chemicals they have provided to
control the spread of the pest.” He said.
Jane Magondu, another farmer from the area expressed gratitude to
the Governor Waiguru for responding swiftly to their calls to have the pests
controlled before spreading further.
“When we saw these worms we got so worried since if not controlled
they are capable of eating up all the crop in our farms thus beaconing hunger. We are however hopeful
our crop will now be saved” She said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Julius Murimi, a farmer who noted
that good coordination within the agricultural department has enabled the
timely intervention that was launched immediately after the pests were
reported. He credited the swift response to the smooth communication between the farmers and the department through the field extension
officers.
While leading the spraying exercise, the County Executive
Committee Member for Agriculture, Dr. John Gachara, said that the African army
worm is one of the deadliest migratory pests that is affecting the county
covering the areas below coffee growing zones including Mwea, Ndia and part of Gichugu in Njukiini ward.
He said that the worms affect crops such as maize, grass family,
but assured that the county government is committed to helping farmers tackle
the challenge and the pest will be controlled before causing significant harm
to the crop.
adequate chemicals for useby farmers to cover the disaster at hand and so far the invasion
is not widespread and we aim to control it.” He said, noting that the County
Government has put on surveillance systems through community driven organizations
such as Wezesha groups, where information is relayed from farmers to the department.
Individual farmers can also relay information directly to the
field extension officers who will in turn respond accordingly.
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