Armyworms have invaded and destroyed maize farms in Somanya in the Eastern region and nearby communities.

The worms have destroyed large swathes of maize farms in the affected communities. 

Peasant farmers are worried their harvest for this year will be affected as efforts to stop the worms have failed.

In Okweinya, a village 5 km away from Somanya in the Eastern region, where the people are predominantly farmers they are facing one of their toughest moments, if not their harshest as farmers.

Although it is harvest time, they have nothing to harvest all their life savings have withered with each passing day. 

Army worms have taken over large acres of maize farms in the community.

The worms have destroyed the corn plant by creating holes in the leaves, consequently hindering its growth.

Sam Beddarh, 64, has been farming for nearly three decades. Sam produces his maize to feed his family and livestock. He has a maize farm which is about two acres.

“When the maize started growing, the worms started eating the leaves, retarding its growth. After the rains set in seriously half of my plants survived…,” Sam said told Joy News' Felix Akoyam. 

But Sam is not the only one hit by the armyworms.

Solomon Tetteh, 33, ventured into maize farming this year.

A newly employed teacher waiting for his first salary after one year; he saw in farming a safe investment to support his family.

“I realized that something is eating up the leaves. So a colleague told me that if I don’t spray my farm, I won’t harvest anything. I have sprayed the entire farm four times already but they keep coming back,” Tetteh said.

Many farmers here are almost giving up on the fight against the worms. 

Mr. Tetteh, for instance, has sprayed his farm four times; but the worms keep increasing as he tries eliminating them.

Those who have given up the fight against these pests have had to clear their entire maize farms, re-ploughed and planted again.

But all that has been in vain, as the worms stride on with their unyielding persistence.

Apart from threatening the livelihoods of these farmers, these pests are equally posing a threat to food security within the region as there are reports of similar pest invasion at Akuse and beyond.

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