Armyworm outbreak in selected areas of Zambia

There is an outbreak of Army worms in some parts of Zambia. In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock would like to urge all farmers to be vigilant and report any suspicious worms to the nearest agricultural office for verification.

The ministry is on high alert and is monitoring the army worm outbreak as agricultural officers have been sent in the field to take remedial measures on the spot in the affected areas.

The armyworms have destroyed a total of seventy eight thousand, six hundred and sixty six (78,666) hectares of crop, affecting seventy three thousand, five hundred and ninety three smallholder farmers in the country.

The government through the ministry of agriculture has since sourced for funds to purchase one thousand, five hundred and seventy seven (1,577) tons of maize seed to distribute to farmers for re-planting in the affected areas.

Farmers are therefore advised to plant early maturing maize varieties of 400 to 500 series which mature within 110 and 130 days from planting.

Re-planting seed from the government is being distributed through the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and selected Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) under the supervision of the District Agricultural Coordinators.

Only farmers whose crop has been destroyed by armyworms will be eligible for receiving re-planting seed. The Ministry has a record of the affected farmers in thirty three (33) districts.

We advise farmers in the affected areas to spray their field with Cypermethrin, Malathion, Fenvelate, Denitrothion, Diazion or Dursban 4E.

Farmers who not have the chemicals should approach the district agricultural co-ordinators’ office for free spraying.

The ministry of agriculture and livestock has since setup a national armyworm alert call centre to enable farmers and the general public to report any suspicious worms to the ministry officials for immediate identification and subsequent action.

To contact the call centre, farmers are advised to call 988 (on all mobile networks) in the country and land lines.

How to Control Armyworms

Armyworms feed on food crops and garden plants at night. When the food supply is gone, they move en masse to a new site. Hence the name army worm. Armyworms can destroy an entire plant in just one evening, and there may be as many as three generations in one year.

Instructions

Know what you're looking for. Armyworms are 1 1/2 inch caterpillars that are pale green when first hatched but then change to olive green with a white stripe later in the season. They turn into moths that are gray-brown with a white dot on the wing.

Look for armyworms on the undersides of leaves and on tender new growth. You will notice holes in the leaves of new growth, most often in the spring or early summer months.3

Rake up fallen leaf debris to eliminate daytime hiding places for armyworms.

Encourage hungry birds to visit your garden to help control armyworms by setting out feeders, birdbaths or nesting material in the area where the worms are feeding.

Attract predatory wasps that will control armyworms by planting dill, fennel, coreopsis and brightly colored flowers near the armyworm-prone plants.

Use horticultural oil in July to kill the eggs of second-generation armyworms.

Spray Bacillus thuringiensis, an organic control for caterpillars, in the late afternoon or early evening hours when you see the first signs of armyworm damage in your garden. Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) is actually a bacteria and is safe to use around children and pets. There are also numerous chemical sprays available to control armyworms.

Spray during the dormant season (winter) with a dormant-season oil spray to head off recurring infestations - armyworm eggs may overwinter in fallen debris. This is a good preventative measure.

Tips & Warnings

• Spray pesticides during the period of the day when the insects are most active to get the best control.
• Always try the least toxic method of pest control as your first step.
• Although Bt is organic and safe to use, it will kill all types of caterpillars, including butterfly larvae. Spray only the plants that are affected by the armyworms and mix only the amount of spray you will use at one time.
• If you use chemical pesticides in your garden, you will kill natural predators of armyworms.
• If you choose a chemical control, always wear protective clothing and safety gear, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, neoprene gloves, goggles and a respirator.

Army worm outbreak in selected areas of Zambia

There is an outbreak of Army worms in some parts of Zambia. In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock would like to urge all farmers to be vigilant and report any suspicious worms to the nearest agricultural office for verification. The Ministry of agriculture is on high alert and is monitoring the army worm outbreak as agricultural officers have been sent in the field to take remedial measures on the spot in the affected areas. The affected districts include Chibombo, Chongwe, Chinsali and Kafue districs. We advise farmers in the affected areas to spray their field with Cypermethrin, Malathion, Fenvelate, Denitrothion, Diazion or Dursban 4E. Farmers who do not have the chemicals should approach the district agricultural co-ordinators’ office for free spraying. How to Control Armyworms Armyworms feed on food crops and garden plants at night. When the food supply is gone, they move en masse to a new site. Hence the name army worms. Armyworms can destroy an entire plant in just one evening, and there may be as many as three generations in one year. Instructions Know what you're looking for. Armyworms are 1 1/2 inch caterpillars that are pale green when first hatched but then change to olive green with a white stripe later in the season. They turn into moths that are gray-brown with a white dot on the wing. Look for armyworms on the undersides of leaves and on tender new growth. You will notice holes in the leaves of new growth, most often in the spring or early summer months.3 Rake up fallen leaf debris to eliminate daytime hiding places for armyworms. Encourage hungry birds to visit your garden to help control armyworms by setting out feeders, birdbaths or nesting material in the area where the worms are feeding. Attract predatory wasps that will control armyworms by planting dill, fennel, coreopsis and brightly colored flowers near the armyworm-prone plants. Use horticultural oil in July to kill the eggs of second-generation armyworms. Spray Bacillus thuringiensis, an organic control for caterpillars, in the late afternoon or early evening hours when you see the first signs of armyworm damage in your garden. Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) is actually a bacteria and is safe to use around children and pets. There are also numerous chemical sprays available to control armyworms. Spray during the dormant season (winter) with a dormant-season oil spray to head off recurring infestations - armyworm eggs may overwinter in fallen debris. This is a good preventative measure. Tips & Warnings • Spray pesticides during the period of the day when the insects are most active to get the best control. • Always try the least toxic method of pest control as your first step. • Although Bt is organic and safe to use, it will kill all types of caterpillars, including butterfly larvae. Spray only the plants that are affected by the armyworms and mix only the amount of spray you will use at one time. • If you use chemical pesticides in your garden, you will kill natural predators of armyworms. • If you choose a chemical control, always wear protective clothing and safety gear, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, neoprene gloves, goggles and a respirator.

Reaching Out and Listening to Farmers: The case of NAIS Internet Based SMS Platform.

Access to ICTs plays a vital role in the life of a farmer as it gives the farmers a chance to improve their incomes and increase food security. Through the use of various ICT tools such as cell phones, e mails, and others, farmers can increase their income from the sale of their produce due to timely access to market information. ICTs have also helped farmers to make choices on what, where and when to sale their produce. In addition, farmer’s networking within and outside their immediate groups can improve and farmers by themselves can also create new market channels using various ICTs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock through the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) has launched a Short Messaging System (SMS) for the farmers. The Department of NAIS is mandated to provide timely agricultural information to the farming community through various media such as radio, television and newspapers. However, with the proliferation of the mobile phone which has certainly been one of the most spectacular technological developments in the recent years, it has become imperative that the Department innovates ways to help farmers become part of the growing global mobile communication market. With financial assistance from the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), the Department in November 2011, launched the SMS platform through which farmers can access timely agricultural information and receive immediate feedback on their pressing agricultural related problems. How the system works. In the message pad of the mobile phone, farmers simply type NAIS, language code leave space, ask a question and send to 3009. Apart from English, farmers can use the service in all the seven major local languages namely Bemba, Nyanja, Lozi, Tonga, Kaonde, Luvale and Lunda. The language codes are EN for English, BE for Bemba, KA for Kaonde, LU for Lunda, LV for Luvale, NY for Nyanja, LO for Lozi and TO for Tonga. Codes can be sent either in capital letters or small letters. The system is currently available only to Airtel subscribers; however, the system will be available to all networks in due course. Each SMS costs K900.00 Advantages of SMS Platform • The SMS platform can play a pivotal role in assisting the farming community accesses relevant, timely and accurate agricultural information from experts who will offer timely solutions. • Farmers can decide where it is profitable for them to sell their produce; • Farmers can access information on how to control diseases and pests faster; • Availability of information on climate change issues such as droughts, floods, etc; • Response from farmers can assist in coming up with new topics for radio broadcasts; • Reduced costs of sending feedback forms from farmer listening groups; • Involvement of youths in ICTS can be enhanced thus encouraging them to see agriculture as a viable industry that can reduce poverty and provide employment; • Improving on productivity at household level and enhancing income levels; • It’s cheaper and reduces on time; It is hoped that this SMS platform will ease the communication gap between farmers and experts to improve on Zambia’s agricultural productivity. “Investment in agricultural ICTs, is investment in the country’s economy”.

Zambia Implements Electronic Voucher for Farmers to Access Agricultural Inputs

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in conjunction with Mobile Transaction Zambia Limited (MTZL) has been employing the use of the Electronic Voucher System (E-Voucher) of Input delivery to the farmers under Conservation Agriculture (CA) Projects since 2008. The E-Voucher has been used in implementing Conservation Agriculture Scaling up for Productivity and Production (CASPP) and Farmer Input Support Response Initiative Programme (FISRI) projects in various districts throughout the Nation. Recognising that conservation farming/conservation agriculture (CF/CA) can play a role in increasing farm productivity and profitability, the FISRI project is promoting CF/CA technologies to enable the integration of aspects that combine timeliness of farm operations, increased use of organic matter, judicial and proper use of mineral fertilizers, improved seeds, irrigation and mechanization (including reduced tillage systems) as well as general land and water management principles. In this context, the project is working through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) to increase food production through improved access to agricultural inputs, agriculture services and promotion of CF/CA principles. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to greater food security as a result of increased food production and more sustainable use of environmental resources. The purpose of the action is to increase food production through improved access to CA inputs/implements and contracting services. The action aims also to promote CA principles in order to help mitigate the effects of soaring food and input prices as well as soil degradation. The main outputs of the project are; - To increase the capacity of MACO staff and Lead farmers to provide future extension support in CA to the beneficiaries in the country. - To make available to lead famers and Camp Extension Officers CA inputs and equipments through use of electronic vouchers for use in line with the training and extension provided. - To pilot CA mechanization to scale up the technology adoption, increase the number of adopters and increase the area under cultivation through provision of agricultural mechanization (tractors (60 HP), tractor drawn CA implements and other similar equipment) The project will increase the capacity of 486 MACO extension staff and 20 000 Lead farmers in the 30 districts to provide future extension support in CA to the beneficiaries in the country. In order to maintain the momentum and consolidate the knowledge gains among CA farmers, the project is supporting all the Lead farmers from the CASPP, the FISRI and FISRI-Expansion projects. The project is providing support to pilot CA mechanization programme in 6 districts targeting 4000 service hire beneficiaries. Currently, the E-Voucher is being used in implementing the ongoing FISRI project in reaching approximately 24,000 beneficiaries from 30 districts in all the 9 provinces of Zambia namely; Chongwe, Petauke, Katete, Chipata, Chadza, Mambwe, Nyimba, Lundazi, Mazabuka, Monze, Choma, Kalomo, Sinazongwe, Kazungula, Sesheke, Kaoma, Mumbwa, Chibombo, Kapiri Mposhi, Mkushi, Serenje, Mpongwe, Solwezi, Zambezi, Samfya, Mansa, Mwense, Chiengi, Kawambwa and Isoka. This is for both accessing of farmer inputs as well as agriculture services by farmers. Under the E-Voucher system, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) identifies the beneficiary camps and farmers following the given target number by FAO. The compiled lists of beneficiaries from each district are sent to FAO for approval after which they are sent to MTZL for input into their Electronic Voucher Database. MTZL once done sends a user list and vouchers each having a serial number connected to individual farmer details i.e. NRC, Name to FAO for initiation of the voucher redemption process by the farmers. Under the ongoing FISRI project, FAO/DRRMU engaged 17 Field Assistants to distribute vouchers in all the 30 districts which are involved in the CA interventions for the 2011/2012 agricultural season. The distribution is closely being monitored and supervised by FAO. The field assistants who were sent to various districts firstly link the farmers to the MTZL database by comparing the farmer NRCs with the details on the E-Vouchers. Once the details tarry, the farmer is given the voucher to takes to the desired agro dealer to redeem the desired inputs appearing on the vouchers. The Agro dealer gets the voucher from the farmer and enters the details of farmer’s desired inputs into their system which once accepted by the system, the farmer gets the inputs worth the value on the voucher and the agro dealers redeems the money from the system into their account.So far, the use of the E-Voucher seems to be an efficient way of distributing inputs to farmers. - The major achievement is the great reduction on the costs of transporting the inputs by road. - Secondly, the business for available local agro dealers in the districts has been promoted. - The E-voucher has also greatly prevented the giving of inputs to people who were not initially targeted in the project.

Agriculture Information Officer

I am interested in sharering proven agricultural technical information to the rural resource poor farming communities to enahance food production so as to eradicate hunger by the year 2030.