Nyamira County has received an assortment of pesticides from the Directorate of Plants and Food Protection to fight army worms which have invaded parts of the County.
Delivering the assortment of pesticides, the officer from the Directorate headquarters in Nairobi, Maganda Don Carlos said they received an alert from the County Agriculture Department in Nyamira County, of the invasion of these destructive worms and decided to act swiftly to contain them before they spread to larger areas in the farms.
“The pesticides we have delivered must be administered with a lot of caution because they are poisonous and only properly trained personnel will be allowed to administer them on the already affected farms,” Mr. Don Carlos warned.
“Among the equipment issued include motorized sprayer, spraying chemicals, and full Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs),” the officer confirmed.
Nyamira County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Ms. Peris Mong’are appreciated the national government’s swift move to enable cushion the spread of the worms which have caused food destruction and brought a lot of panic and anxiety amongst farmers.
She promised that the county government’s agriculture officers will strictly adhere to regulations of application of the pesticides so that they can kill the destructive worms ensuring that they do not become hazardous to human and livestock’s lives.
“Residents and farmers need to cooperate with the agriculture officers at the sub county level for they will be assisting them eradicate these dreaded worms. You also need to immediately report when you spot them on your farms for timely intervention because they have rendered food insecure, other regions which they have invaded,” she advised.
Close to 15 counties nationally have been infested by the army worms. In Nyamira, parts of West and North Mugirango constituency including Nyamaiya and Bokeira areas have been affected. The government is trying its best to contain their spread and multiplication.
By Deborah Bochere and Zachary Makori
