Economy

Sh600m plan to fight invading armyworm

worm

Armyworm invasion of a maize farm in Kisii county. file photo | nmg

Governors and the national government have moved in to stem the spread of the armyworm in a proposed Sh600 million budget to fight the invasion.

Armyworm, which has so far spread to over 13 counties, has been blamed for massive destruction of maize crop which experts warn could lead to food shortage.

The county bosses on Tuesday said the campaign, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, will include the setting up of a technical team responsible for developing mitigation measures against the spread of the worm.

The governors said the technical team, which will include representatives from both levels of government, will also be responsible for creating “a concept note” for lobbying for resources among other interventions.

“The ministry of agriculture will hold trainings for farmers on surveillance and community forecasting in order to apply control measures at an early level and help to generate information through researches,” said a statement from the Council of Governors secretariat.