APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) A severe armyworm outbreak has hit northern Zimbabwe, threatening to destroy crop in the fertile Mashonaland Central province, state radio reported here on Tuesday.
An official from the Ministry of Agriculture told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation that the latest outbreak was the most devastating occurrence of the pest in recent years.
He said some farmers in the province which is close to the border with Zambia had already lost maize and sorghum crops that had reached knee level.
The affected areas in Mashonaland Central are Mushumbi Pools, Angwa Chitsungo, Mahuwe, Muzarabani and Mount Darwin.
The official said the ministry had dispatched special teams to assess the damage with a view to contain the outbreak.
JN/ad/APA
2011-01-04
