{"id":324675,"date":"2017-06-02T10:00:31","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T10:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=324675"},"modified":"2017-06-02T10:00:31","modified_gmt":"2017-06-02T10:00:31","slug":"farmers-in-ziope-lament-army-worm-invasion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/06\/farmers-in-ziope-lament-army-worm-invasion\/","title":{"rendered":"Farmers in Ziope lament army worm invasion"},"content":{"rendered":"
Farmers in Ziope in the Volta Region are counting their losses following an evasion of army worms in their farms.<\/span><\/p>\n The pests have eaten deep into the stalks and bitten into the leaves of the crops with the destruction widespread over several acres of farm lands.<\/span><\/p>\n Farmers who spoke to Cit News<\/strong> said the situation was becoming an annual occurrence, causing them to lose their investments.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr. Steven Agbeve, one of the farmers in the area, said most of his colleagues are gradually being kicked out of the farming business due to the annual invasion of the pest.<\/span><\/p>\n Residents of Ziope are predominantly vegetable farmers, and have featured as one of the leading producers of tomatoes and okro in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n Another problem facing farmers in this area is the unavailability of market, and storage facilities for their produce after harvest. <\/span><\/p>\n They are therefore calling on government to as a matter of urgency come to their aid by quelling the attacks from the pest, and consider the establishment of a processing factory and storage facilities for the vegetables.<\/span><\/p>\n