Govt announces list of subsidised pesticides to control armyworm

A man inspects armyworm damage in his farm. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NMG 

By KAZUNGU SAMUEL

More by this Author

Summary

• The pesticides were unveiled by Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri when he met the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation in Mombasa.
• They include Vantex 60 CS-Gamma cyhalothrin, Coragen 200 SC-Chlorantraniliprole, Voliam targo 63SC-Chlorantraniliprole and elt 480 SC-Flubendiamide.
• Others are B, Avaunt 150 SC Indoxacarb, Orthene Pellet-Acephate, Marshal 250 EC-Carbosulfan, Match 50 EC-Lufenuron and Fastac 10 EC-alpha-cypermethrin.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced a list of nine pesticides that farmers can use in fighting the fall armyworm that has destroyed maize crop around the country.

The list was unveiled by Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri when he met the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Irrigation in Mombasa.

“We have now the pesticides that farmers can access, buy and use them to fight the invasion of the fall armyworm.

"These are some of the subsidised pesticides enlisted by the ministry to mitigate the effects and aftermath of the destruction that the armyworms have done around the country,” he said.

READ: Kenya faces staggering losses from armyworm, US warns

ALSO READ:Farmers use detergents in fight against armyworms

List of pesticides

They include Vantex 60 CS-Gamma cyhalothrin, Coragen 200 SC-Chlorantraniliprole, Voliam targo 63SC-Chlorantraniliprole and elt 480 SC-Flubendiamide.

Others are B, Avaunt 150 SC Indoxacarb, Orthene Pellet-Acephate, Marshal 250 EC-Carbosulfan, Match 50 EC-Lufenuron and Fastac 10 EC-alpha-cypermethrin.

Mr Kiunjuri had earlier said the ministry, to mitigate the problem, would subsidise some pesticides that farmers could purchase.

Last week, MPs asked the ministry to allocate Sh1 billion to fight the fall armyworm as experts warn the pest could destroy half of Kenya’s annual maize crop.

The agriculture committee urged Mr Kiunjuri to declare the pest infestation an emergency.

“At least Sh1 billion should be allocated for mitigation efforts eradicate the pest. By doing so, we shall be addressing a very crucial situation [which] is one of the biggest in history to have gripped our farmers,” said Moiben MP Silas Tiren.

Sh400 million

However, Mr Kiunjuri said the government could only provide Sh400 million towards the efforts.

He also pointed out that governors ought to have more input in fighting the pest as agriculture is a devolved function.

“These efforts needs a total input of the governors. We came in as the national government because of the magnitude of armyworm effects. County bosses and especially those from the affected regions need to tell us their preparedness,” he said.

READ: State shifts armyworm control to governors