Namibia expects heavy maize loss from pest outbreak

Namibia is set to lose about 5,000 tonnes of maize to pest outbreak, Eddie Hasheela, Chief Agricultural Scientist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, said Tuesday.

According to Hasheela, it is estimated that this year, the northern and northeastern regions, the country's main maize producers, will produce about a quarter less than their annual production, which is estimated at about 20,000 tonnes.

Fall armyworms and American bollworms have invaded maize fields in regions including Zambezi, Omusati, Kavango West and Kavango East since early this year.

More losses are expected, with the damage and pests impact still hard to assess, Hasheela said.

Meanwhile, containing the pests has been difficult, despite farmers having received government assistance to spray the crops to control the insects, he said.

"The biggest challenge is the big moles flying in the air, and would reproduce once the temperature become favorable. And the chemicals would only work once sprayed by all farmers at the same time, in the right quantity and way, which is when the pests are still young and haven't entered the plants," he added.

Outbreak of the worms was also reported in other SADC countries like Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. Enditem