The Katsina State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on the state government to assist farmers in controlling worms that are destroying crops in their farmlands.
The AFAN Chairman in Kastina, Alhaji Yau Umar-Gojo-gojo, made the call while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Katsina.
He said that the appeal had become imperative because whenever the worms invaded farmlands, they ate up stems which made it difficult for the crops to survive.
Umar-Gojo-gojo said that the problem was much in places like Batarawa, Mani, Daura and Funtua axis.
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He said that the worms mainly attacked newly planted crops like maize, guinea corn and millet.
The chairman advised farmers affected by such incidents to apply recommended insecticides to kill and prevent the worms from spreading to other places.
“We have received complaints from some of our members that the worms are seriously destroying their crops.
“We have visited such affected places and seen how the worms attack but we advised them to, as a matter of urgency, use recommended chemicals to kill the worms before the government intervenes to reduce losses.’’
He said that the worms appeared due to rainfall seizures in many places in the state for over 10 days.
“We are hoping that they will disappear as soon as rainfall resumes; we are hopeful for the rainfall any moment from now,” he said.
Umar-Gojo-gojo urged the state government to assist the farmers in controlling the worms and prevent them from recording pre-harvest losses.
“We are calling on the government to assist the farmers with chemicals to control these worms.
“The government can deploy the 722 extension workers to each ward in the state to ensure the elimination of such insects in their respective communities.
“At least, the government has given each extension worker a motorcycle and sprayer for use in his area where necessary.
“So, the government should also provide them with the chemicals to control the worms,” he advised.
He expressed fear that the problem could affect agricultural productivity, especially maize, guinea corn and millet if urgent measures were not taken.
The chairman explained that farms that reported such problems were located in the major areas producing such crops in the state. (NAN)
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