Farmers Sensitized to Use Belt Expert Against Fall Armyworm

Messrs Dela Nyarku and Martin Nartey of RMG Ghana Ltd as well as Peter Ampofo.

and Philip Obour-Bonsu of Bayer Crop-Science briefed the media about the insecticide spraying demonstration exercise.

under the banner of “Kick Fall-Armyworm Out” campaign.

According to them, the fall armyworm easily builds a resistance to a.

particular chemical /insecticide within a year and that literature from experts recommend thatfarmers.

should use three, (3) products/insecticides alternatively to prevent the pest from building a resistance.

The gentlemen stressed the importance for farmers to procure their agric inputs.

from the right sources and adhere to safety measures when applying pesticides inorder not to.

compromise their health.

It also came to the fore during the exercise that: “Belt Expert is.

"soft" on most beneficial species and pollinators, so it fits very well into the integrated.

pest management programs.

”

The Training Coordinator of Masara N’Arziki, Matilda Exornam Egbenya reiterated that fall.

armyworm is threat to Ghana’s food security.

She said Masara N’Arziki works with about ten thousand farmers who are into.

maize and cotton production in the three regions in the North adding that in 2016,.

farmers harvested on average 20 maxi-bags of maize per an acre cultivated but in 2017,.

the fall armyworm infestation led to a reduction in their yields to between 16and eight.

maxi-bags for one acre.

Ms.

Egbenya announced that in Bimbilla in the Nanumba North District, people harvested as low as.

four maxi bags of the commodity per one acre last year as aresult of the.

fall armyworm problem.

Ms.

Egbenya pointed out that “the great effect” of the armyworm infestation compelled farmers to take.

desperate measures like the use a detergent, “so clean” and pepper in response to the.

pest.

A farmer, Alhassan Nabila Fuseini advised his colleagues to utilize the Belt Expert.

in controlling the fall armyworm.

Buduan Basuglo Iddrisu whose farm was used for the demonstration was particularly excited.

about the use of the drone in spraying and entreated RMG Ghana Ltd and its.

partners to provide a drone for farmers to hire for spraying, saying the drone technology.

is beyond the means of the average farmer.

The media were also tasked to continuously educate and remind farmers on thenecessity.

for them to take pre-emptive action against the fall armyworm.

Report by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo


gbcghanaonline.

com.