KZN officials on alert should fall armyworm affect sugarcane
The SA Sugarcane Research Institute says it's on alert as concerns grow over the threat posed by the fall armyworm invasion.
Food security experts have warned that small-scale farmers, including sugarcane farmers, might bear the brunt as the worm continues to spread in KZN.
It's now been detected in four districts of the province in the space of two weeks.
The Durban-based institute's Derek Watt says while the fall armyworm has stayed clear of sugarcane, they are preparing for a possible infestation of the crop.
"We are liasing with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the best way to deal with the pest. At this stage, the worm has not been detected on sugarcane at all even though it's on maize. The two crops are very different in terms of where they grow," he said.
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The Department's Khaye Nkwanyane says if sugarcane does come under threat, the consequences will be significant.
"We haven't seen it attack sugarcane in any country but we can't rule that out because it's the first of its kind in Africa. Sugarcane constitutes one of the major crops in KZN. Should it enter into that space, the effects would be dire for the province and the country. Together with Mpumalanga, we are the biggest producers of sugar for the country," he said.