The Katsina State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on the state government to assist farmers in controlling worms that are destroying crops in their farmlands. Yau Umar-Gojo-Gojo, the AFAN chairman in Katsina, made the appeal during a press briefing on Wednesday.
He reported that the worms have invaded farmlands, eating up stems and making it difficult for the crops to survive. The issue is particularly prevalent in areas like Batarawa, Mani, Daura, and Funtua, primarily affecting newly planted crops such as maize, guinea corn, and millet.
The chairman urged affected farmers to use recommended insecticides to kill and prevent the worms from spreading before the government intervenes. “We have received complaints from some of our members that the worms are seriously destroying their crops. We advised them to use recommended chemicals urgently to kill the worms and reduce losses,” he said.
Umar-Gojo-Gojo noted that the worms appeared due to a lack of rainfall in many areas of the state for over ten days. He expressed hope that the worms would disappear once the rainfall resumes.
He called on the state government to provide chemicals to control the worms and prevent pre-harvest losses. “The government can deploy the 722 extension workers to each ward in the state to ensure the elimination of such insects in their respective communities. The government should also provide these workers with chemicals to control the worms,” he advised.
The chairman warned that without urgent action, agricultural productivity, especially for maize, guinea corn, and millet, could be significantly affected. He emphasized that the affected farms are in key areas for crop production in the state.
