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The ministry of agriculture and Livestock would like to announce to the farming community throughout the country and the general public at large that there’s an outbreak of Armyworms in some parts of Zambia. We urge all farmers to be vigilant and report any suscipicious worms to the nearest agricultural office for verification
The ministry is on high alert and is monitoring the army worm outbreak. Agricultural officers have been sent in the field to take remedial measures on the spot.
We would like to assure all farmers in the affected areas that our offices have commenced spraying in affected areas of central, Lusaka, Eastern, Muchinga and Southern provinces and other areas. However, farmers in the rest of the country should also be vigilant as the pest appears to be spreading at fast rate.
The ministry is taking the following measures to contain the situation.

Ministry of Agriculture staff are on the ground spraying
Chemicals have been purchased to deal with the pest
The international Red Locust Organisation is working with the ministry to contain the outbreak of armyworms
The Zambia National Farmers Union is also sensitizing farmers on the outbreak.
The National Agricultural Information Services has gone flat out sensitizing farmers on both radio and television
Farmers are advised to buy chemicals for spraying such as
Cypermethrin
Malathion
Fenvelate
Denitrothion
Diazion
Dursban 4E
Farmers who may not have chemicals should approach the district agricultural co-coordinators’ office for free spraying. The army worm is hairless and has a shiny black colour on the back, light stripes on the side, and a greenish yellow belly on the underside. It feeds only on grass and that is and that is why maize is under threat. Whoever has seen any army worms in their field should contact the camp extension officer or get in touch with the Department of Agriculture on telephone number 0211 251871 and 0211 252029 or cell number 0979580995
Farmers should contact the nearest agricultural officer at the camp, block, district, provincial and national offices.
Emmanuel .T. Chenda, MP
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock
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