By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- The extent of the invasion of armyworms caterpillars attack on Bong and neighbouring Nimba and Gbarpolu Counties have begun to emerge.
Some of the towns are affected are: Gbarney, Jackson Village, Todomue, Cooper Village, Shakpallah in Zota district, Narweh in Panta district, electoral district two in Nimba County, amongst others.
“Armyworms are destructive pests that eat grass, vegetables, and ornamentals, destroying entire plants quickly. These pests grow into moths within a few weeks, but the larvae stage causes the most damage.” Armyworms: How to Spot, Stop, and Prevent These Pests in the Garden (morningchores.com)
Scientists say they have four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Adult armyworms are moderately sized with a wingspan of around 1.5 inches.
Currently, inhabitants of these areas are living in despair.
For Gbarney, the town chief Peter Flomo including others explained that they aren’t going to their respective farms.
They told our reporter that the army worms have affected their streams- major sources for drinking in the area.
Up to press time, Gbarney has a single hand pump thus leaving residents to fetch water from the rivers and streams.
“This is second week now. We are going anywhere because it can block the road and everywhere. See the water… They have taken over it. We need assistance because the single hand pump cannot serve us,” Chief Peter Flomo told this Reporterr on Sunday.
Gbarney has over three thousand inhabitants, its former town chief, Mr. James Halawanga told our reporter whilst also seeking for assistance to remedy the situation.
For Shankpallah in Zota and Narweh in Panta district, inhabitants are being prevented from all farming activities due to the fearing nature of these army worms.
“Let me tell you, for a week now we are not going on farm because these things (Caterpillars) have blocked our roads, affected our water and prevented us from living in peace” Ojuku Mulbah, a resident of Shankpallah in Zota district told journalists.
“It’s really embarrassing! They are overall {in our waters, roads, etc}. They are affecting us. We need assistance as this is the worst case ever,” Esther Kollie, a mother in Narweh, Panta district told our reporter.
The inhabitants have been telling Journalists that the caterpillars are destroying their crops and are seeking support.
“See the caterpillars on our corns; see this one on the okra… It destroys the leaves like this one… These things are not playing with us. We are calling for assistance,” Peter Cammue, a youth in Gbarney told journalists in a frustrating tone.
They want the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries and agencies help provide pesticide to avoid them leaving their homes.
They fear that if nothing is done, it will catastrophic as they are currently in hunger and thirst.
Meanwhile, Gbarpolu and Nimba counties have reported similar army worms outbreak, thus causing panic amongst inhabitants.
Mr. Kollie K. Nah, Ministry of Agriculture Extension Officer in Bong County has confirmed the invasion. According to him, the Ministry has dispatched an assessment team to ascertain the severity followed by an action.
This Reporter, who visited the scene, saw several buildings abandoned by the owners as a result of caterpillars’ invasion.
In 2020, similar outbreak occurred across the county thus leaving them homeless and in starvation for weeks.
The situation immediately caught the attention of Agriculture Minister Madam Jennie Cooper and team who traveled to Gbarney and other parts of Bong County to ascertain the facts.
Similarly, in 2008, army-worn outbreak occurred in Zota, and other areas which led then President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson and team to make an intervention by providing food supplies to victims to calm the situation.