The Eastern Cape is taking preemptive measures in the event that the devastating fall army worm is detected in the province.
That's according to the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform.
MEC, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, said even though the Fall Army Worm has not been reported in the province, he had met with specialists at the Dohne Research Institute near Stutterheim on Monday.
He said he wanted to ascertain the province's readiness in the event of detection of fall army worm.
“Things should not be delayed and we need to move swiftly to procure the material we need if the armyworms reaches our province.
“We need to arm our society with information and tools to deal with the armyworms,” the MEC noted in a statement.
“The previous outbreak of the armyworms was the African Armyworm in 2013 which saw the province losing maize in the following districts; Alfred Nzo (442ha), Amathole (1233ha), Chris Hani (722.5ha), Joe Gqabi (95ha) and O.R Tambo (8124ha),” the Department statement said.
According to plant specialist Dr Thembekazi Silwana the changes in climatic conditions, especially the rise in temperature, inconsistency in rainfall intensity and distribution, variation in seasonality, drought, carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere and extreme high rainfall events that include storms and floods are likely to cause an epidemic.
She said the major outbreaks of the armyworm in South Africa occurred in 2001, 2003 and 2013.
Dr Silwana said the FAW is destroying the part that allows the plant to grow and “it moves very fast.”
“We need to be strong on the ground hence our extension officers and researchers should start scouting the fields to check for the armyworms,” she said.
Dr Silwana has already sent out communique to the extension management and researchers so that the so that they vigilant lookout for possible outbreaks can start soon.
The MEC said the province will “create a war room to deal with the armyworms.”
“We want to ensure that the province do all it can to ensure food sovereignty. We lost nearly R10 million in 2013 hence it is important to empower farmer so that we can with the outbreak if it happens,” he said.
DDG for Agriculture Leon Coetzee said a brief about the possible outbreak will be sent to the provincial disaster team led by Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs, a cabinet memo will be done to appraise the executive about how DRDAR deals with armyworms threat.
He said a letter will also be sent to all mayors including government departments while three specialists will be sent to the affected provinces to check methods used to fight the outbreak.
Coetzee said once the pesticide that fights with the armyworms has been approved, the province will acquire it, adding that all the essential kits were available.
Dr Silwana said the budget and procurement system will be made in order to meet the need of emergency operations as per the Disaster Risk Management Act 57 of 2002. According to the Act the procurement of goods and services should be approved within 72 hours.
