92 farmers in Limpopo - and counting
The fall armyworm invasion has been reported in Limpopo, the North West, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says they are, however, surveying all other provinces.
"In Limpopo, where the minister is now, we can confirm that the fall army worm has affected about 92 farmers and a total of about 4200 hectares of maize," says departmental spokesperson Bomikazi Molapo.
Molapo says it's too early to say what impact that pest can have on food security.
"It has not really affected all the major maize production areas, so we hope it will not get to that stage," says Molapo.
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Meanwhile, Agri SA President Johannes Möller says farmers are struggling to keep the worms at bay.
Möller says the emergency registration of chemical substances to kill the worms has been done, but availability is a challenge.
"We will have to import some of them, mainly from the United States of America," says Möller.
Möller says farmers are also struggling financially.
"We have come through a drought and the farmers simply don't have the money to buy those chemical substances," says Möller.