Trans Nzoia County governor Patrick Khaemba revealed that his administration has set aside Kshs 45 million to deal with the Fall Army worm menace in the County. While addressing the press in his office, the Governor appealed to the national government to work closely his administration to eradicate the worm menace.
This comes even as efforts to solve the army worm problem go on in the region. The Fall army worm, which can destroy whole maize crops in a farm and cause devastation has already hit Kakamega County, and the four counties in former Western province; Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia and Vihiga, will have to come up with a solution to the problem, together with Trans Nzoia.
Governor Khaemba said that the army worms are resistant to spray chemicals which are effective on other normal worms that affect cereal crops.
He said once the worm has developed to a moth, its still devastating and said it can lay up to 2000 eggs in different spots, and has a lifespan of 30 days. He said the current weather is friendly to the pests. He urged farmers to plant their crops at the same time so that the pesticide spraying can also be done at the same time. He added that any signs of the army worm effects should be reported to the agricultural officers so that appropriate action can be taken.