By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY – The Ministry of Agriculture Coordinator of Nimba County Jefferson Degon has alarmed over the devastating impact of caterpillars which has spread across two districts of Nimba County
The caterpillars which are moving fast across the two districts are destroying crops and other agriculture produce – leaving many farmers frustrated.
The Agriculture Coordinator also said the dangerous caterpillars are polluting water sources and consumption may lead to health complications for residents of the affected districts.
As the caterpillars move with jet-like speed, it has also entered the Nimba County cocoa belt threatening economic viability of farmers who depend on the sales of cocoa.
“The firs community it entered was Zuoplay, later to Duopkala which is one of the highest cocoa producing areas of Nimba County,” Jefferson Degon said.
Five other communities in the same region are affecting – stressing the need for urgent intervention from the central government through the Ministry of Agriculture.
“It keeps spreading and we started attacking it already. From the update I got this morning, the Ministry of Agriculture will be sending some people tomorrow (Wednesday) to go where the outbreak is to start the fight,” Degon noted.
“The country seed garden is along that same belt where the caterpillars have attacked. So we have to try to secure the seed garden because as we have started attacking it, they might be migrating to another location. And our fear is the coca belt of Nimba and the seed garden,” he said.
Chemical Shortage
The Nimba County Agriculture Coordinator said a chemical recommended by the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) proves to be killing the caterpillars but it is now in shortage.
“The chemical we are suing is killing it. When you spray it you see it is killing it because it as recommended by CARI. So with that chemical we are gradually getting at it but what is happening is that the chemical is difficult to be seen in Liberia because companies that were producing it slow down on production and the price is climbing,” he noted.
He then launched a passionate plea with the Ministry of Agriculture to contact a vendor that will supply the county in order to curb the fast movement of the caterpillars.
