Armyworm: Desperate farmers spray crops with detergent

Farmers in Aperikira Sub County, Kaberamaido district are now using crude methods to spray their crops using detergent in order to kill armyworms.

A farmer in Aperikira Sub County spraying maize using detergent. Photo by Simon Naulele

According to the area LC3 chairperson for Aperikira, Paul Ewoyu, virtually all the 44 villages have been affected by the worms which he says have now shifted to destroying potato gardens.

“People are now desperate and use Nomi to spray their fields, and some say it is successful,” Ewoyu told New Vision on Tuesday.

He said the farmers are making loses after buying potato cuttings at sh20,000 a bag before the army worms began attacking the fields.

Ewoyu said his sub county was given only 70 litres of pesticide which he says is meant for only one farmer. He appealed to government to save the farmers by providing pesticides.

Edward Okello, 31, a resident of Agule Village in Olelai Parish said; “All my seven gardens of maize have been attacked by army worm. But we are trying to spray with Omo,” he said.

Miriam Amoo, another resident of Olelai parish said if nothing is done, efforts by the farmers will be wasted and food insecurity will intensify in the district.

The RDC Kaberamaido, Willy Ebil said plans are underway to distribute 200 litres of pesticide.

“The first distribution by Government was for trials, and that’s why were we given as a district only 70 litres, but Government is going to give Kaberamaido 200 more litres through the Ministry of Teso Affairs,” Ebil said.