THE Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (ARDAS) is committed to utilising its personnel’s expertise and available resources to fight pests and diseases threatening the nation’s agriculture.
In an interview with The Herald in Harare yesterday, ARDAS chief director Mrs Medlinah Magwenzi said by harnessing knowledge and resources, the directorate was mounting a strong defence against the threats posed by fall armyworm, African armyworm and ticks, safeguarding agriculture and securing the nation’s food supply.
“This time of the year, we are actually all aware that there are these climate change variabilities and because of that, there are so many diseases and pests that come with such climatic conditions.
“Right now, we’re talking about fall army worm, African armyworm and we also are talking about ticks. The list is long,” she said.
She said the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Ministry’s Migratory Pests department was active with teams on the ground setting traps to detect the presence of pests and diseases before they spread and destroy crops and livestock.
“We were supposed to have lost great tonnages in terms of wheat from quelea birds, but this did not happen because of this particular department.
“And right now we’re actually protecting all crops and grain that we have, saying none of it shall be eaten and none of it shall be lost,” she said.
Mrs Magwenzi emphasised that traps had been strategically positioned, backed by chemicals ready to take down any pests or diseases that emerge.
“We have drones. They are ready. They have been serviced as I speak. Each province has one.
“Those drones will fly at the wink of an eye. As soon as certain pests are identified. Surveillance is ongoing,” she said.
She said they were currently on the lookout for locusts and a team was on standby to investigate any reported sightings.
With the onset of the rainy season and the intensification of cropping throughout the country, farmers are encouraged to be on the lookout for pests that can affect crops at any stage of their growth.
Efforts are underway to strengthen surveillance mechanisms, management and control systems for emerging pests that can reduce crop yields drastically, a Government official has said.
However, the rainy season also brings heightened risks to livestock health, particularly the threat of tick-borne diseases.
Among these, theileriosis, commonly known as January disease, stands out as a major concern.
This disease, transmitted by infected ticks, has devastating effects on cattle and economic security.-herald
