Speaking to the Liberia News Agency following an assessment in Zota Friday, Bong County Agriculture Coordinator Monica Honoree officially confirmed the outbreak of army worms in the district.

Honoree revealed that samples collected from the affected communities by the Ministry show that the worms are moving speedily to several other parts of Zota District.

She noted that the MOA office in Bong County has packaged several spraying materials and is preparing a team of technicians from the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) to carry out the exercise in the affected communities.

Honoree hoped that there will be no rain to allow immediate commencement of the spraying exercise, adding that spraying cannot be done while it is raining.

She added that the worms are fast moving in the area due to the fact that most of the villages and towns are very bushy and farms are near towns and villages.

She noted that the army worms have destroyed crops, entered houses and contaminated water sources with their feces in the district.

"The invading caterpillars are now destroying drinking water sources, including creeks and wells. In 2009, similar caterpillars invaded the same District, leaving thousands of people homeless," she recalled.

Honoree called on residents of the affected areas to clean their surroundings, noting that this will help limit the movement of the worms.
LINA PTS/TSS/PTK