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Elvis Dumba
Zvimba – Farmers here are dealing with the ravaging fall armyworms which are feared might destroy planted maize.
Most farmers especially A1 farmers say they are experiencing the fall armyworms in their fields and fear they will not reach expected harvest targets.
In Ayshire Farm in Zvimba North, Dorcas Chimukasa said at least half of her three-hectare maize field has been affected by the parasite.
“My maize has been invaded by the fall armyworms which has affected at least half of my field and I don’t think I will get a good harvest,” she said.
In Trelawney, Zvimba South Constituency, Michael Kurwa said the influx of the fall armyworms is a setback to them as they are now being forced to fork out more money for pesticides.
“We are already burdened by the ever-increasing high cost of top dressing fertilizer and these fall armyworms have forced us to fork out more money as we have to buy pesticide and usually you will notice these fall armyworms when they have already ravaged the field,” he commented whilst inspecting his field.
In Banket, the peri-urban farmers have not been spared from the challenge as the small fields of maize dotted around the town are also being affected.
“I don’t know why this year we have so much fall armyworms attacking our maize than previous years. I’m afraid I may fail to get a good harvest due to this problem as not everyone affords to buy pesticides. If I apply pesticides in my field those fall armyworms that fail to be killed move to the next field which would be pesticide-free so it’s hard to totally eradicate the problem,” John Wahimwa a peri-urban farmer said.
Fortunate Marara, the Zvimba District Agriculture Extension Officer urged farmers to apply pesticides when they start applying herbicides in their fields.
“Farmers should apply pesticides earlier especially when they are applying first herbicides. From what we got, those who did that are not being affected by the current fall armyworms challenges,” she said
Marara said at least more than seventy percent of farmers in Zvimba District have been affected.
“Maize output is expected to be affected by a five percent reduction in harvest output due to the fall armyworm challenge,” she said in a telephone interview.
