More than 15,800 farmers in Copperbelt Province have had their fields infested by fall armyworm, affecting approximately 10,000 hectares of cropland.
Copperbelt Province Senior Field Crops Officer Michael Mumbi disclosed that the infestation has been increasing across the province during the 2025–2026 farming season.
Mr Mumbi said the province has a total of 247 agricultural camps, of which 175 camps have so far reported fall armyworm infestations.
He explained that people continued to make reports because most crops in the province were currently at the vegetative stage, a period when crops were highly vulnerable to pest attacks.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has been combating the fall armyworm to ensure that crop yields are not affected. This is being done through various programs such as the training of officers and farmers in Integrated Pest Management” Mr. Mumbi said.
The Senior Crops Officer said the province received 10,000 litres of pesticide that will be distributed to all ten affected districts.
Mr Mumbi stated that the Copperbelt Province has over 460,000 small-scale farmers, and the chemicals will be delivered to districts, which will later distribute them to the affected households.
He also explained that pesticides were rotated to prevent pests from developing resistance.
” The chemicals received include Emamectin Benzoate and Lambda-cyhalothrin, which are highly effective”, he said.
Mr Mumbi advised farmers to apply the knowledge and training provided and emphasized that chemical control should be used as a last resort, as pesticides were highly poisonous.
He encouraged farmers to closely monitor their fields and apply Integrated Pest Management techniques, including cultural practices, for early detection and control.
He added that farmers were free to visit the District Agriculture Coordinator’s office to seek guidance and access pesticides when necessary.
I really dont know how they get these figures