Armyworms 'eat' N$15.2m
The armyworm invasion during the 2016/17 harvest season has resulted in a drop in maize output and a subsequent loss of N$15.2 million in revenue at various state-owned green scheme projects.
This was revealed by agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The minister said maize output from the green schemes dropped from 17 829 metric tonnes (MT) recorded in 2015/16 to 14 437 MT in 2016/17.
The decrease is equivalent to 19%, which in monetary terms is about N$15.2 million.
The invasion was more prominent at the Etunda and Musese green scheme irrigation projects in the Omusati and Kavango West regions, respectively.
At Etunda, maize was suspended entirely and at Musese the ministry was forced to replant almost the entire field of about 450 hectares due to damage by armyworms.
Other green schemes also affected by the presence of armyworms include Shadikongoro, Shitemo, Ndonga Linena, Uvhungu Vhungu (all in Kavango East) and Sikondo (Kavango West).
!Naruseb said the armyworms are endemic and are thus “here to stay”. “Once this pest is introduced in an area or country, it becomes practically impossible to eradicate it,” he said, adding the remaining option for affected countries therefore is to develop a contingency management plan.
To this effect, the ministry plans to, among others, establish a national task force and early warning systems, as well as procure pesticides and train farmers and technicians. To further mitigate the armyworm situation, crop rotation is advised.
“The best intervention to address the armyworms at Etunda is to undertake an aerial spray with a helicopter, which would cost the state anything in the region of N$1 million,” he said.
!Naruseb also said that in view of an “imminent drought situation” in 2018, Government should reserve N$72 million to purchase grain as drought relief food through its green schemes.
“We strongly recommend for the government to set aside funds estimated at N$72 million to buy up the grain for the national strategic food reserves (silos),” said !Naruseb.
The ministry has projected a 16 091-metric tonne grain harvest at all its green schemes for the 2017/18 season, and this will be sold to government to mitigate the effects of the drought.
NAMPA
This was revealed by agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The minister said maize output from the green schemes dropped from 17 829 metric tonnes (MT) recorded in 2015/16 to 14 437 MT in 2016/17.
The decrease is equivalent to 19%, which in monetary terms is about N$15.2 million.
The invasion was more prominent at the Etunda and Musese green scheme irrigation projects in the Omusati and Kavango West regions, respectively.
At Etunda, maize was suspended entirely and at Musese the ministry was forced to replant almost the entire field of about 450 hectares due to damage by armyworms.
Other green schemes also affected by the presence of armyworms include Shadikongoro, Shitemo, Ndonga Linena, Uvhungu Vhungu (all in Kavango East) and Sikondo (Kavango West).
!Naruseb said the armyworms are endemic and are thus “here to stay”. “Once this pest is introduced in an area or country, it becomes practically impossible to eradicate it,” he said, adding the remaining option for affected countries therefore is to develop a contingency management plan.
To this effect, the ministry plans to, among others, establish a national task force and early warning systems, as well as procure pesticides and train farmers and technicians. To further mitigate the armyworm situation, crop rotation is advised.
“The best intervention to address the armyworms at Etunda is to undertake an aerial spray with a helicopter, which would cost the state anything in the region of N$1 million,” he said.
!Naruseb also said that in view of an “imminent drought situation” in 2018, Government should reserve N$72 million to purchase grain as drought relief food through its green schemes.
“We strongly recommend for the government to set aside funds estimated at N$72 million to buy up the grain for the national strategic food reserves (silos),” said !Naruseb.
The ministry has projected a 16 091-metric tonne grain harvest at all its green schemes for the 2017/18 season, and this will be sold to government to mitigate the effects of the drought.
NAMPA
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