16 May 2008
Nairobi — Armyworms have destroyed crops and pastures in 11 districts of Eastern Province.
The insects are now threatening food security in Upper Eastern region and Tharaka Division in Meru.
A report by the Kenya Red Cross Society said 70 per cent of crops planted this season in the two areas had been destroyed.
Crucial
Pastures - which are crucial to the economy of the two areas, especially in the Upper Eastern region where the communities are mainly pastoralists - were not spared either.
The worms have also been reported in Igembe, Imenti South, Tigania, Meru Central and Maara districts, which are all in the larger Meru district.
Other districts where invasions have been reported, according to Eastern provincial crops officer Hesbon Olweny, include Mbeere and Embu.
He said about 47,000 hectares in the province had been invaded by the worm.
"The infestation density is not uniform, but high-density infestation of 70 to 100 per square metre has been reported in some parts of Gadhamoji in Marsabit District and Obbu and Uran in Moyale," the Kenya Red Cross Society's report signed by secretary-general Abbas Gullet says.
Gadhamoji is at the foot of Mount Marsabit and communities living in the area grow maize and teff.
Teff, which the KRCS says is one of the food crops heavily affected by the infestation, is mainly grown in neighbouring Ethiopia and is used to make flour.
The Red Cross warned that the armyworm was a threat to food security.
But Mr Olweny downplayed the extent of the damage the worms had caused, saying the situation was under control.
"The situation is under control and we don't expect any major losses," he said.
Farmers in the affected districts had been supplied with adequate insecticides to deal with the menace, Mr Olweny said.
Spraying
The Red Cross concurred that in Moyale and Marsabit districts, the Ministry of Agriculture had been spraying the affected areas.
"They are also sensitising farmers on chemical usage, distributing spray pumps and mobilising technical personnel," Mr Gullet said in his report.
He said that more chemicals were required in Moyale and Isiolo.
Mr Gullet said that Kenya Red Cross branch personnel in the affected areas were working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture officials in spraying and monitoring the extent of the infestation.
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