Deputy Minister for Agriculture Dr. Sagri Bambangi is assuring Ghanaians that government’s priority project; Planting for food and jobs will not be affected by resource allocation to the fight against Fall Armyworm invasion.
He was speaking during a day’s training for media personnel on Fall Armyworm reporting at Santasi.
He says it is true that the FAW situation is a national emergency which demands emergency funding but added that fears government’s planting for food and jobs will be affected negatively are unfounded.
The Deputy minister also explained some measures being put in place towards eradicating the FAW. He says strategies being implemented for the 2018 planting season include deepening of awareness and sensitization campaigns. He adds that National Pest Surveillance system will also be strengthened to provide early warning and emergency response. Research into biological control as a medium to long term management of the pest is also being looked into.
As part of the training, the media personnel were taken to a farm at Kwadaso to observe first hand how affected crops look. They were also educated on the life cycle of the fall army worm, signs/symptoms of FAW, management options such as culture, chemical and classical biological control.