B4FA Fellow Michael Ssali writes:
Joseph Mayengo a smallholder farmer at Manja Village Kisekka Sub-county in Lwengo District suddenly discovered that his maize crop was under attack by strange looking caterpillars.
They had perforated holes in the leaves and in the stems, and it was clear that there was little chance for the maize plants to survive. He remembered he had a pesticide in the house that was left over from what he used in the last tomato season. He figured that he could use it to save his maize crop.
The following morning he set to work. However, after a few days there was no sign at all that the caterpillars had reduced in any way and within just a week the entire maize field was destroyed and many of his fellow farmers were complaining about similar losses. The farmer has since come to learn that the strange caterpillars are the fall armyworm. Read more