Bungoma County government is seeking urgent intervention from the national government and other well-wishers to help deal with fall armyworms that have affected at least 10% of maize planted by farmers in the County.
Bungoma County agriculture director Onesmus Makhanu says the 10% translates to 11,250 bags of maize which when sold at a price of three thousand per bag a loss of thirty-four million shillings may be in the offing if farmers won’t get help.
He disclosed that last year the destruction affected 20% of the maize in the farms saying this year they have prepared and presented a budget of up to Kshs 35 million which he says will be able to help the affected farmers deal with the menace.
Meanwhile, he called upon farmers to use the mechanical way which is physically picking out the armyworm from the maize and also use sprayed pesticide in the farms, saying it is available in agro vet shops.
Mr. Makhanu, however, assured the farmers that the County government is working round the clock to ensure they get help as soon as possible.
On his part the County agriculture CEC Mathews Makanda said the national government has received Kshs 1 billion from the European Union to fight the fall armyworms in the country saying as a County they have presented the budget to the Agriculture ministry to have the money trickle down to help farmers.
He said as a County government they have trained their staff already, insisting that if the funds are availed they will be in a position to help the farmers at the grass root level as the armyworms have spread in different sub counties and they will be able to curb the spread.