The Honourable MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) Zoleka Capa has called for calm among farmers that are affected by the recent outbreak of army worms that are destroying maize in parts of the OR Tambo District Municipality.
As the department’s team is currently in spaying pesticides to the affected areas in a bid to control the scourge, the MEC has called for the formation a task team that includes her office staff, experts from Dohne Research Centre and Extension Services to deal with this matter.
The task team will ensure that the outbreak is controlled and preventative measures across the province were made. An assessment of the extent of the hectors damaged will be done as soon as possible in order to devise how the farmers could be helped.
The MEC cannot express how deeply she is saddened by the outbreak but she has encouraged the farmers not to despair but to be strong in this time.
“Our hearts are with the affected farmers as they face difficult times and we do everything possible to assit.”
She assures the farmers that the department will continue to support them and urged them to contact their extension officers or nearby DRDAR offices.
The department has received report that the army worms, which eat mostly the leaves and the flower of maize, has affected Bityi, Tsolo, Mqanduli and Qokolweni areas and there are fears that it could spread to the Alfred Nzo areas.
For more information:
Ayabulela Ngoqo, Spokesperson
Cell: 071 603 3235
Thozi Manyisana
Cell: 082 494 3600
