The pests have invaded 3,000 acres of maize farms in areas along permanent rivers where more than 800,000 people directly depend on relief food.
The official recently appealed for help from a team formed by the Agriculture secretary Willy Bett to fight the spread of armyworm.
The county relies on extension officers to educate farmers on how to detect the pests and quickly alert them for rapid response.
Hundreds of small-scale farmers in Turkana County are staring at low maize yields from major irrigation schemes following the invasion of armyworms.
The pests have invaded 3,000 acres of maize farms in areas along permanent rivers where more than 800,000 people directly depend on relief food due to the effects of the ongoing drought in the region.
While on a fact-finding tour of 22 irrigation schemes in the county, Water, Irrigation and Agriculture executive Chris Aletia said the armyworms had attacked 1,500 acres of the Katilu Irrigation Scheme.
“Katilu farmers are staring at Sh40 million loss. The pesticide we acquired is covering 800 acres. We ask for the intervention of both national government and development partners as pest control is supposed to be continuous until they are fully eliminated,” he said.
Mr Aletia said the annual production from Katilu irrigation scheme is 40,000 90-kg bags of maize.
The official recently appealed for help from a team formed by the Agriculture secretary Willy Bett to fight the spread of armyworm.
“We need to urgently be advised on the right pesticides as we are already using Orthene pesticide but it is important for experts to recommend the right pesticide to fully eradicate armyworms,” he said.
Mr Aletia said the county relies on extension officers to educate farmers on how to detect the pests and quickly alert them for rapid response.
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