Katambo calls for concerted efforts in fighting fall army worms

Michael Katambo

Agriculture minister, Michael Katambo has called on Southern African countries to coordinate in fighting fall army worms in the region considering that they are a trans-boundary pest.

And Mr. Katambo has announced that the Zambian government has established a task team comprising government and other key stakeholders including research institutions to help in addressing the outbreaks of fall army worms in the country and the region at large.

Speaking in Lusaka when he officiated at a high level regional partnership meeting on controlling fall army warms in the southern African region, Mr. Katambo noted the need for governments and institutions in the agriculture sector to ensure that proven technology solutions are made available to small holder producers in the region within the shortest possible time.

He has expressed concern at how the army worms have adversely affected productivity and food security of small holder farmers in the region especially that they depend on maize for their livelihoods.

And African Development Bank (AfDB) Zambia manager, Mary Monyau says a lot needs to be done in combating fall army worms such as mobilizing resources, applying scientific tools and broadening management options beyond dependence on chemical control methods.

She has expressed concern over recent reports which have confirmed that fall army worms could cause between 21-53 percent maize yield losses in 12 African countries within 12 years with an estimated economic value of between over 2.4 billion and 6.2billion United States dollars.

The one day meeting which has been organized by the African Development Bank has brought together the private sector, seed companies, framers and policy makers from Angola, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.