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Alien Worm Threatens African Farmers

By Joie M Gahum | Update Date: Feb 08, 2017 07:33 AM EST

Africa is facing a major threat to their food security and agricultural trade as an army of alien worms are putting their agricultural crops at risk. The Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International are worried that his infestation might spread not only in Africa bus as well as Asia and other Mediterranean countries.

BBC reports that the Food and Agriculture Organization in Africa is already making their move in creating emergency plans against the Fall Armyworm. This insect marches through crops and eats their way of the vegetation. They are native to North and South America and was identified to be present for the first time in Africa last 2016.

The worms are rapidly spreading in African and according to Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International's Chief Scientist, Dr. Matthew Cock, the serious pest can potentially spread to Asia as well. Without urgent actions, devastating losses to crops and livelihoods are serious problems to be faced in the very near future.

Scientists are considering imported produce as the avenue where the eggs of this alien work managed to reach Africa.

Chicago Tribune narrates that the adult version of the Fall Armyworms turns into moths that can fly in large distances spreading their eggs rapidly in nearby vegetation areas. With the infestations, already present in the South, East, and West of the Africa, many are already starting to experience a shortage in agricultural produce.

An emergency meeting is scheduled for February 14 to February 16 to decide emergency action plans to suffice the Fall Armyworm threat. Other reports suggest that the alien worms may already be present in Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sambia, and Mozambique. The worms were initially spotted in Ghana.

With the Fall Armyworm spreading at the ravaged fields of Ghana to South Africa, fears of the spreading of the alien work in other continents like Asia and the Mediterranean may pose a threat to the food supply and livelihood of farmers in this area.

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