Army Worms Threaten Farms In Ada

Agric extension officials at Bedeku, a farming community in the Dangbe East District of Greater Accra have expressed fears that army worm infestations in the area could cause severe havoc to farm produce.

The District Agric Technical Officer, Awutey Joshua Banana in an interview with Joy News said the worms were multiplying at an alarming rate.

He added that the nocturnal worms have a gestation period of 10 days and normally move as an army consuming crops in their way.

He advised farmers in adjourning communities to be alert and notify agric extension officers should they sight moths or larvae of the worms for action to be taken immediately.

Joy reports after a tour of some of the infested farms with agric extension officers that about 50 acres of farm lands have been covered by the worms, worse than it was initially thought.

It said district Agric Extension Officers have sprayed the entire infested area and are on the look-out for new outbreak of the worms in surrounding areas.

The worms infested water melon farms, sorghum, tomato, pepper and other vegetable farms in communities around Ada Junction, spreading from Bedeku where the worms were first sighted.

According to a resident in one of the affected communities, the last outbreak of the army worms dates far back to the late 1950’s and he is very surprised at the current outbreak.