Snails invade Mbarara, destroy crops

By Julius   Atuhaire                              

 
Hundreds of crop gardens have been destroyed by the deadly snails in Ndaija Sub County, Rwampara Mbarara district affecting over 95 percent of the crops there.
 
Robert Tumwesigye, the district agricultural officer names the worst affected villages as Rutooma, Mitijo, Busingye, and Kacuucu. He said that the snails have destroyed pumpkins, yams, beans and several other types of vegetables there.
 
Tumwesigye notes that they have already alerted the Commissioner for Crop Protection in the ministry of agriculture for a solution.
 
Residents there are worried that the snails’ invasion will lead to severe food shortage and diseases.
 
Currently farmers are using crude methods of killing the snails that involve collecting them using polythene bags before poisoning them using ash mixed with salt.

Source: Radio West