Fall armyworm cannot be eradicated in Ghana - Minister

The fall armyworm that has attacked thousands of hectors of farms cannot be eradicated as many wish according to a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), George Oduro.

He disclosed on Accra-based Joy Fm on Wednesday that the situation can only be managed just like other South American countries that first suffered fall armyworm invasion decades before it hit the African continent.

“We cannot eradicate army worm invasion, we are only trying our best to manage it just like Brazil who have been grappling with it for over 35 years now. We will go to them and learn how they were able to contain the situation”, he said.

The Deputy Minister who was responding to the latest reports about several hectors of farms being destroyed by the fall arm worm reiterated government’s commitment in dealing with situation stating that the requisite chemicals have been procured and dispatched to the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in that regard.

“Government has voted money for managing the fall armyworm which shows how serious it is. It will therefore, be improper to thing nothing is being done about the situation”, he assured.

The Fall Armyworm (FAW) detected in the country last year has so far infected a total of 18,000 hectares (ha) of farmlands, causing the country loses to the tune of $64 million.

The Brong- Ahafo Region recorded the highest infestation rate of 2,765 while the Northern Region had 1,083 ha infestation rate, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has announced.