Farmers under the auspices of the Orgainsed Farmers Support Network in Akwa Ibom State have alerted the state government of the imminent danger posed to food security by the invasion of army worms.
Food Crops mostly affected by the invasion of the army worms include maize, melon, yam, oil palm trees cassava vegetables and cocoyam.
The group, in a letter sent through the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources called on the state government to take proactive measures to address the issue.
According to the letter which was signed by it Director-General, Prince Ekput Jumbo, and Secretary, I. Inokon, the group said if urgent steps were not taken to address the situation it could pose serious danger to government’s move to ensure food sufficiency in the state.
The letter titled “Complaint of pests/diseases attack on crops and appeal for compassionate assistance” reads in part:
“We write to convey complaints of pests and diseases attack on crops of our farmer and the need for compassionate assistance by government to reduce the negative impact on the farmer’s harvest.
“If necessary assistance is not rendered timely, farmers are likely to record discouraging harvest.”
Jumbo said on Monday that the army worms had invaded large part of his members’ farm lands and cultivated plots wiping away the entire field in most cases.
He said members of the group had started bemoaning financial and yield loses of monumental proportions if the situation was not addressed on time.
A farmer in the state, Mr. Alphonsus Nyang, confirmed the devastation of his crops by the army worms.
He said: “The army worm has wiped away two of my farmlands while diseases are already taking their toll on others.”
He called on government to do something fast to avert the situation so as not to record discouraging yield worse than that of last year.
