Agriculture officials face challenges to combat armyworms and locusts in Zambezi

By: Hertha Ekandjo

Ministry of Agriculture officials deployed to combat the locust invasion and fall armyworm outbreak in the Zambezi region do not have enough or reliable vehicles to access areas affected by the outbreak.

The Directorate of Agricultural Production, Extension, and Engineering Services dispatched three teams, each comprising three members, to 16 affected following reports from farmers about the outbreak in mid-January this year.

However, Chief Agricultural Scientific Officer Rodrick Maswabi said tyre punctures are a challenge, hence off-road tyres are needed.

Maswabi, who was speaking while giving progress on the presence of locust infestations, highlighted the lack of emergency funds to respond to the outbreak effectively, urging the government to avail funds.

Additionally, the teams have encountered wild animals such as elephants, snakes, lions, and leopards, which pose a risk to the safety of the workers.

The lack of sufficient personal protective gear for the workers has also been identified as a concern.

In response to these challenges, the Ministry has called for the immediate procurement of adequate safety gear to protect workers from exposure to harmful chemicals used during the operations.

Communication has also been a challenge due to poor network coverage in the region, making it difficult for teams to coordinate and communicate their efforts effectively. There are calls for improvements in regional telecommunication infrastructure to address this issue.

Another concern is the delayed payment of Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) and overtime, which is affecting the staff’s morale. The Ministry has been urged to resolve these delays to ensure that workers remain motivated and focused on the task at hand.