The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto has announced the allocation of 16 million cedis by the ministry to eradicate the infestation of army worm in some farms.
The minister revealed this when he inaugurated a multi-sectorial task force that has membership from the private sector and development partners to control and manage the menace.
Approximately, a total of 1,370 hectors of farms have been affected by the devastation of army worms this year in a number of district in the Ashanti, Central, Northern, Western, Eastern and the Brong Ahafo regions.
Last year Ghana experienced the incidence of infestation of the army worms in all nine regions with the exception of Western region where approximately 4,052 hectares of maize and cowpea fields were destroyed.
According to the minister, half of the budget will be used to purchase chemicals to control the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the taskforce among other things will sensitize and create awareness among farmers on detection of army worms; implement, prevent and control measures against army worm; and conduct surveillance and monitoring programs.
It will also research for other long term measures to combat the pest and source for resources for short and long term strategies to combat the menace.
The ministry is also working with development partners in the sector and regional authorities to have a holistic approach to address the problem.
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