Cross River State Governor |
The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, said a multitude of caterpillars has ravaged at least 300 hectares of cocoa farms in Cross River.
The agency said the caterpillars, popularly known as
'Okiro insects', ate up the cocoa leaves as well as infested the cocoa pods and
other economic trees such as plums, bush mango, kolanuts, and avocado.
The Director-General of SEMA, John Inaku, explained in
a statement made available to journalists in Calabar that the destruction began
about a month ago in Okiro, Obudu Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the caterpillar invasion has spread
to Okweriseng, Ofambe and some neighbouring local government areas of Boki,
Ogoja, Bekwarra, Obanliku and Ikom.
He said he had assessed the damage and that more than
2,000 farmers and their dependants affected by the scourge had been
impoverished by the invasion.
Mr. Inaku said the government would initiate an
intervention.He also assured that SEMA would promptly communicate
the development to the state governor, relevant disaster stakeholders, the
National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development.
He said the stakeholders would be expected to work out
modalities to stop the spread of the marauding insects.
One of the victims, Ayine Ofre, who spoke on behalf of
affected communities, said he lost several hectares of cocoa, pear, avocado,
and yams to the insects.
Mr. Ofre commended SEMA for visiting the affected
communities and farms.He appealed to the government take active steps to assist
affected farmers.
Another victim, Oliver Ebang, said the ravaging of the
crops had caused him great economic losses amounting to millions of naira.
He said he could no longer fend for his family. Roland
Atsu, whose farm was also affected, said life would be difficult, because he
had lost all his crops to the raiding caterpillars.
The farmers expressed fears that the insects would
re-invade their farms if remedial measures were not taken by the authorities
concerned.
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