At least 8,000 acres of maize in Trans Nzoia have been attacked by fall armyworms putting the country’s food security at risk. The county is already grappling with an acute shortage of maize because of the recent drought hence the armyworms are set to worsen the situation. The county is one of the country’s food baskets. According to County Agriculture Chief Officer Mary Nzomo, distribution of chemicals to farmers in a bid to contain the situation is underway.
“About 8,000 acres are affected by the pest. Although with heavy rains low temperatures lower the spread and multiplication of the worms, we are going on with spraying crops and we hope we will contain them,” Ms Nzomo said yesterday.
