Farms in Nabdam District, Upper East Region, are currently facing a severe invasion of armyworms, resulting in rapid destruction of crops. The pests have deeply penetrated the stalks and extensively damaged the leaves, particularly affecting maize crops across numerous farmlands in various communities of the district.
Concerned farmers, who shared their distress with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), expressed worries over the invasion and highlighted the detrimental impact on their farming activities. They emphasized that the combination of the pest invasion and the high cost of fertilizer posed a significant threat to their yields, potentially leading to reduced agricultural output.
Mr. Goubagre Sampana, a former District Best Farmer, stated that this recurring destruction, along with the expenses incurred in combating the pests and acquiring fertilizers, was causing substantial losses and discouraging new farmers from entering the agricultural sector to contribute to the food production.
"This destruction, in addition to the cost of fertilizer, is making us lose our investment because we spend so much fighting these pests and at the same time on fertilizer," he expressed. "Year in year out, we experience the invasion of these armyworms on our farms, and it is demoralizing for us, who have been farming for years. You can imagine the impact on young people who may wish to venture into farming," he added.
Mr. Saah Zoya, another farmer, emphasized the urgent need for government intervention by providing them with pesticides to combat the armyworms. He explained that such assistance would help control the spread of the pests to uninfected farms and alleviate the financial burden on the farmers.
Mr. Joseph Adjabui, the District Director of the Department of Agriculture, acknowledged the reports of armyworm invasion in certain communities and assured that agricultural officers were on-site to assess the affected farmlands. He also mentioned that the government had already supplied some pesticides to support the farmers, and further assistance would be provided in due course.
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