About 10 hectares of cassava fields in Kantenshya ward and other surrounding villages in Isoka district of Northern Province have been heavily infested by suspected cassava mealy bugs.
A check by ZANIS in the area over the weekend revealed that 70 small scale farmers have had their fields infested by the suspected mealy bugs.
Areas badly affected include Namota, Mukangala, and nearly all the villages in Kantenshya ward of chief Kafwimbi’s area.
Camp extension officer, Bernard Kashiwa has confirmed the infestation to ZANIS in Isoka.
Mr. Kashiwa suspected that mealy bugs have spread across the camp because farmers in the area are growing the same variety of cassava commonly known as “Isunda” which is an early maturing variety which has allegedly lost resistance to the pest.
The Extension Officer said that the pest causes malformation of leaves and poor growth of the crop affecting the development of tubers and rendering the plant worthless.
“The pest would greatly affect the yield if left unchecked and will compromise the household food security as cassava is the staple food in the area,” Said Mr. Kashiwa.
Acting District Agricultural and Cooperative Coordinator (DACCO)Clive Matengu confirmed having received a report on the outbreak of suspected mealy bugs in Kantenshya ward and other surrounding villages.
Mr. Matengu said samples of the same suspected mealy bugs will be taken to Misamfu agricultural research station in Kasama for diagnosis.
The acting DACCO who commended the officer for promptly reporting the presence of suspected mealy bugs in the cassava fields in Kantenshya and other surrounding villages appealed to the farmers to immediately report to relevant authorities if they see any peculiar pest in their crop field.
ZANIS/ENDS/JM/HM/CLM
:d/
first mbelenge nomba
[-x
Too bad mwee!
Burn the whole fields
baby c
sweet sis how are you today and how is work?
missing you :x:x
Moderator, yesterday you urged us to read before commenting but am suprised, its the opposite today,…. :o):o)
Moderator
you had leakage i was number 1 now….
anyway congrats.
G baby
hello mama!I dont work i just blog! missing you too love :o):*
Baby C, @ #1, that is just to wish everyone a good day
its really sad,what will people eat kanshi.
G baby, mind you am the moderator. That explains why.
What can i say?No comment! New Topic pliz…Baby C n G BABY hw r u babes?
G baby
I will be Nambala one shortly! because looking at the posts from #1-5 am the only one who has atleast said something in relation to the topic :o)
By the time the sample is diagnosed, the “isunda” will be finished… I feel sorry for the farmers who put everything in it 🙁
Get rid of them in the same u do the mosquitoes thts all.
#15 you are right. Its so sad. This will lead to total hunger.Its a shame.
Zoe :-h
yesterday was about cattle,today cassava in that same Isoka 2mro no one knows.Oho God come to our aid. **==
Baby C, Zoe, G Baby, Moderator good morning. No comment on this one
Sister am cool and u? U cannot have any comment on such becoz they bring the same topics day in day out
This Moderator is scaring me!! [-([-([-([-(
he has started rigging Numbala l-) sure!! Our only source of Joy before we blog!!
Moderator please [-x[-x[-x[-x[-x[-x
bushe nga tukya utubantu twaleba kuli katapa akale ninshi aba baice ba BABY C na ba Moderator tabalafyalwa twaya kwisa? their heads used to look like some one……….. fill in the blank
This ia a serious issue that needs to be sorted before it spreads to other parts of the country .
please be Govt, Do something quickly. Stop -@and start:-<
This is a plague.
Yahayahayah!!.Kalundwe under attack?.We are in deep sh!t.Ministry of agric do yo work to save those fields.With the high prices of maize we can’t afford to lose our only hope of survival.
25. Nine Chale
Do you mean the Moderator? :o:o:o:o:o:o
The govt should stop 😮 and :-@ , but start ;;) thinking and doing
28. Ba Honey
we surely need a feminist Government!! =))=))=))=))=))=))
Their is need to supply improved varieties which are not susceptible to such attacks to our farmers. this is a draw back on household food security
This in indeed a pile on the agony.:((
This is indeed a pile on the agony.:((
Against mealie bugs:
1) Neem oil – this is 100% organic anti-feedant, and works against most plant eating insects. The neem clogs up their tiny stomachs and stops them from feeding, after which they starve. Neem is 100% harmless for people, as it has centuries of human use in beauty products. People gargle with it, and put it on their face without known negative effects.
2) Predator insects – start breeding the local mealie bug predator.
29. Jam@co
The Govt seems to be :-@:-@ and les8-|
Youn know what i mean?
Has any one of you guys tried this combination before, Kalundwe yo shoka with fried nshaba?.Its the best combination I’ve ever had. =d>
Who has bewitched Isoka? Cattle disease, cassava..father impregnants daughters..Need to invoke powerful prayers.
Isoka in BIG problems this time, I thought southernners will shift to Nothern to occupy the iddle land despite of enough rains. NOW….eee casyupa. Again imwe bamaHonda dont say “suspected” dont you have enough experience now.Tell us, what is it? You ve got 24hrs 2report 2LT :d