A maize farmer at Akuse Natreku in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, Mr Kwabena Amoako has bemoaned about how the fall army worms have destroyed his three and a half hectares of his maize farm.
He said this year’s fall army worms’ invasion of his maize plantation has really caused him a lot. He said though he has applied all the recommended chemicals, he has still not seen any improvements on the farm as the situation remains the same.
Mr. Amoako lamented that though he has contacted some extension officers for assistance on the development, they could not get the needed help as the Agric directors thought they were going to sell the requested chemicals to other farmers to make money.
He said such farmers are instead directed to the Agric director in the municipality.
Mr. Amoako who expressed his frustration in an interview with Captain Adabuga on the ‘Akuafo Se Sen?’ segment of the Morning Show said this year has been the most challenging he has ever experienced throughout his entire farming life.
He said the situation has compelled him to quit maize farming and consider another aspect of farming as his three and a half hectares of maize farm cannot provide him with any appreciable income but rather debt which he has incurred.
From an initial figure of 1,400 hectares of affected farmlands as at May this year, more than 112,000 hectares of farm fields have been invaded by the Fall Armyworm pests.
Two major concerns have dominated discussions since the outbreak of the Fall Armyworm pest. First, farmers complaining that the chemicals promised by government are not reaching them. And secondly, concerns that the chemicals being used by government under the free mass spraying exercise are failing farmers.
But government says the invasion is under control and the country’s food security is not at risk. “The amount that has been destroyed is just about 6 percent of farm fields. We do not expect it to go up to 10 percent. We know that individual farmers might be affected but overall food security, we may even have net gain in terms of increase in food production,” govt explained.
Prince Paul Amuzu/ritefmonline.org/princeamuzu667@mail.com
