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Cows die after grazing a field sprayed with chemicals to kill army worms

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Army worms
Army worms

Five herds of cattle have died after grazing on fields that were sprayed with cypermethrin, a chemical used to kill army worms that have invaded farms in Kapiri Mposhi district.

Kapiri Mposhi District Livestock Officer, Patrick Kawambwa, who confirmed the incident to ZANIS, said the animals belonging to a farmer in Kabwale area in Chief Mukonchi’s area died on the spot yesterday after eating the toxic grass which was sprayed with cypermethrin.

Mr Kawambwa said the chemical was sprayed on the pastures near a maize field to prevent army worms from going into the farm.

The Livestock Officer advised farmers in the district to follow instructions on spraying the chemical as it was lethal to the lives of grazing animals and humans.

And Mr Kawambwa has cautioned people in the district not consume the meat from animals that have died from consuming cypermetrin or any other chemical being used to exterminate army worms.

He said human beings alike can be severely affected after consuming animals that have died from the chemical.

Mr Kawambwa warned butchery-owners in the district to be on the look-out and not to buy and stock carcasses of animals that have died from consuming cypermetrin.

He said his office will soon conduct inspections of slaughter permits of animals in butcheries.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and World Vision- Zambia are distributing cypermethrin and lambda – wipe to farmers in the area to spray against the pests that have invaded many farms and eating newly planted and budding crops.

Over 4000 small scale farmers in Kapiri Mposhi district have had their fields invaded by army worms.

ZANIS

18 COMMENTS

  1. Organic is the way to go. Army Worms are just larval stage of a moth. They have natural enemies.

    Birds eat them – including chickens. They’re free chicken feed. Also, as biting insects, they can be slowed down and killed by anti-feedants like Neem Oil, which is 100% safe for people and livestock.

    But the biggest protection of crops against insects is the mineralisation of the soil. When lava rock, basalt rock, granite or glacial rocks are ground to the consistency of flour, they become biologically available to microbes and even plant roots directly. (Hence the prhase: rocks are the mother of the soil.)

    Plants need much less (organic) NPK fertilizers when they have access to lots of micro-nutrients from rocks (or sea weed).

  2. Plus ni XMAS thez Villagers need to be careful and be sternly warned or new year will not be seen in their eyes… Anyway none is safe from the seed of death but lets avoid it where we can.

    • ” What a PF government!! Are you fed up yet?? ”

      And ready for the corruption, unaccounability and arrogance of the MMD? Or the tribalism and neoliberal policies of the UPND?

      Not this decade.

  3. They have known and warned people to say the stuff they were using was deadly. How do you administer pesticide without precautions? Pathetic Fools, people will next time. ba CNP.

  4. Sample yaoneka after all ni chrismas period when everyone needs money elyo neshaba kasukulu just sell the meat and have more money in the pockets a promised by PF

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