Farmers in Tharaka Nithi County have decried an increase in the number of fall army worms on their farms which have wreaked havoc.
A spot-check by Kenya News Agency (KNA) in some parts of Chuka Igambang’ombe and Maara constituencies established that most of the farms had been invaded by the worms.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Denis Mwenda from Mariani village in Chuka Sub County said the pests had caused destruction on his quarter acre of land where he has planted cabbages.
“I am considering uprooting them (cabbages) because most of them have been destroyed by the worms,” said Mr Mwenda noting that he had sprayed a number of pesticides but none had proved effective.
A number of residents have resulted to smearing local tobacco solution and washing powder on the plants leaves as innovative measures but also have proved unsuccessful.
Another farmer Ms Josephine Mwari said if eradicative measures are not put in place in time, most of the farmers may reap very little leading to food insecurity in the county.
“My one acre of maize plantation has been adversely affected by the worms and I fear that I may not harvest enough considering that we have had enough rainfall this season,” said Ms Mwari.
The residents are pleading with the county government to help them fight the worms by providing them with preventive information and effective pesticides to spray on their farms.
They are also pleading with the government to provide them with humanitarian assistance following the ongoing rains that have resulted to flooding on their farms thereby causing destruction.
By Linus Ndung’u and Fred Muruja
