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Head, Plant Protection Research Institute, Dr Godfrey Chikwenhere, on Thursday said the country should expect another outbreak in February, as the wet weather would create the right conditions for the pest to breed and resurface.

“We cannot say exactly where the outbreaks will be, but there is a high possibility that all the worms that have pupated will raise a new generation that will take advantage of the rains to attack once again.

“Dry areas face less chances of experiencing fresh outbreaks, but it is still possible that they may invade from the wet areas. At the moment armyworm control operations are in progress in the different areas and we have enough chemicals for the task,” Dr Chikwenhere said.

He said unlike the first outbreak in which the pest was coming in from the north, (Zambia, Uganda and even Tanzania) this time the pest is localised and should not catch people unaware, but ready.

“Farmers should continue checking their fields and pastures daily and report any unusual sightings to their extension officers, Government offices near them or our office,” Dr Chikwenhere said.

He added that the armyworm is devastating and can destroy vast tracts of crops or foliage overnight if it is not reported and controlled.

Dr Chikwenhere said his department had enough chemicals to contain the current outbreaks noting that all reported cases had been successfully handled.

“We have enough Carbaryl 85 percent chemical to contain the pest. We have chemicals mainly for communal areas though we can also extend our services to the commercial sector.

“The good thing is that the chemical is relatively safe to use in the communal areas with its residual effects going up to 21 days,” Dr Chikwenhere said.

Armyworms feed during the night. They have a monster appetite for foliage, creating browned-out areas in the wake of their feeding activities.

Farmers can help in the controlling efforts by finding them when they are small and before they do the most damage.

Meanwhile, farmers in Masvingo province have expressed concern over the outbreak of armyworm amid reports that all the seven districts have been affected.

Farmers, who spoke to Chronicle on Thursday, said they were now having sleepless nights because of the caterpillars which have become a menace in the whole province.

A farmer, Mr Moses Mutoko, of Hwendedzo Farm in Victoria East, said he is now afraid that he will not be able to have a good harvest given the invasion by the armyworm.

“When the rains came everyone was happy that we would have meaningful harvests, but the story might be different due to the invasion of the armyworms. They are already causing havoc yet the crops are still below knee height stage,” said Mr Mutoko.

He said the armyworm has destroyed more than 30 hectares within his community and is afraid that he might not be able to protect his crops even if he gets chemicals to spray.

“I am in a dilemma of what to do because the armyworm has eaten a better part of my crops.  I put maize on a three hectares and the crop has been badly affected that I wonder if I will be able to rescue the crops considering the damage,” he said.

Ms Florence Masvingise from Bikita said the armyworm had invaded all her crops.

“I planted maize and sorghum on a three-hectare piece of land at Ruti Irrigation Scheme. Three quarters of my crop is badly affected that I do not know if I am going to realise anything at the end of farming season,” she said.

Contacted for comment, Masvingo provincial agricultural officer Mr Paul Poshai confirmed that the whole province is affected, but he assured farmers that the situation was under control.

“I can confirm that we have received reports of armyworm invasions from all the seven districts, but farmers should not panic because that is an annual phenomenon, which is, however, under control. We experience the problem of armyworms every cropping season, but in all occasions we have contained the menace. We are on top of the situation and I can confirm that we are moving around distributing chemicals for spraying,” said Mr Poshai.

He said the Government has since secured the chemical used to control armyworms.

He said the distribution of chemical has been done in four districts adding that the chemical is given to affected farmers for free.

“We have distributed the chemical in Bikita, Zaka and as I am speaking I am in Chiredzi doing the same with one of our trucks having gone to Chivi District and it is for free. The consignment that they have will also cover Mwenezi. By Sunday (tomorrow) we would have covered the whole province,” he said.

Mr Poshai, however, said the problem could be easily addressed by the present wet spell.

“The problem of armyworms can be simply dealt with if the province continues receiving heavy rainfall. However, we are not folding hands waiting for natural controlling measures. We are giving farmers Carbaryl 85WP so that they spray their affected crops now,” he said.

He urged farmers to use the Carbaryl 85WP chemical other than any other chemical due to its user-friendliness.

The problem of armyworm has affected a number of provinces. — Harare Bureau/Masvingo Correspondent.