By Prossy Nandudu
Farmers in Luwero, whose gardens have been invaded by caterpillars that the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries has identified as Giant loopers, are calling for speedy assistance to contain them.
The caterpillars that initially preferred fruit trees like avocados and mangos, do eat coffee leaves, cassava, beans and sweet potato leaves as well.
The farmers through the area chairperson of Kiteme LC1 in Bamunanika sub-county in Luwero district want speedy intervention.
“Although the ministry supplied some pesticides the challenge at hand requires more,” added the Bamunanika sub-county extension officer, Charles Kayanja.
They made the appeal on Monday, September 11, while meeting with a team from the Crop Protection Department in the ministry of agriculture.
The team was in the region to deliver pesticides to the district agriculture officials to show and teach farmers how to use the pesticides and their effectiveness in the management of the caterpillars.
The pesticides that were delivered by the team are Cypermethrin 5% EC which James Ogwang from the crop protection department explained that preliminary tests show that they are effective.
