Plans in place to curb armyworm infestation
Plans are in place to ensure the outbreak of fall armyworms do not affect our food security and crops. That's according to agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana.
He briefed the media in Pretoria today after the worms were detected in the country for the first time.
Zokwana says some cases were reported on the continent last year.
The minister says a list of pesticides and how it should be used is already circulating.
READ ALSO: Agriculture dept confirms armyworm invasion
"We know now what we are dealing with. We know its origin, we know its biology. What we need to do now is put into use some of our best pesticides that have been tested.
"People should not be alarmed. We will not use pesticides that will be harmful for human consumption."
Zokwana says the priority is to ensure that the infestation does not affect our food security.
"We are working around the clock to make sure we defeat the scourge. I will be visiting some of the affected provinces so that we can talk more with farmers," he says.
Last week the agriculture ministry confirmed that tests results positively identified the fall armyworm from samples collected in Limpopo.
Farmers in North West have also reported the destructive caterpillar.