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Chilo Outbreak in Zimbabwe Threatens Crop Yields

Each season, farmers are confronted with huge risks of crop damage and many uncertainties, and these farmers need effective and sustainable solutions every season to ensure profitability, particularly when a significant amount of resources is committed to crop cultivation and production in expectation of profitable yields. Currently we are facing outbreaks of the chilo worm in Zimbabwe.

The distribution of the chilo worm in the country was confined to the lowveld and middleveld with the Busseola fusca dominating the highveld. However there have been reports countrywide of chilo outbreaks damaging up to 300ha of maize. Insect pests are a major constraint to crop productivity and profitability due to their direct and indirect damage to valuable crops. We face a major challenge if we are to meet demand for grain in the country.

Icaro Cooke Vieira/CIFOR

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