Maize Farmers Alert On Strange Disease

Following the outbreak
of a strange disease that has been ravaging Cassava in parts of Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, some farmers  have similarly raised alarm over a similar  disease that has been  destroying their  maize crops in Ahoada East, Ahoada  West and Abua/Odual LGAs of the state.
Some farmers who spoke to The Tide, Monday said the unknown  disease  ate up the  young leaves of the maize  crop as they develop.
According to Jerry Onyike, a farmer from Oduemerenyi Community in Ahoada East Local Government  Area, vast crops in his farm were now in danger.
He disclosed that his maize crops that were expected  to be fruiting had all been lost  to the strange disease.
Also, another farmer, Mr. Chukwudi Georgewill from Abua who spoke to The Tide, Monday equally expressed  surprise at the strange disease.
He explained that he had lost over 200 maize plants to the yet-to-be-identified disease.
Georgewill who is also the chairman of Aminigboko Community  Development Committee explained that the incidence could have been checked if the various Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), in the state were functional.
According to him, the rural farmers  were at the mercy of pests and minor diseases that could have  been confronted by agric extension workers.
He added that the availability of fertilizer and advice  from  trained agric extension officers would go a long way in curbing such unexpected occurrences.
It would be recalled that The Tide, recently published  the outbreak of a strange disease that  affected cassava in parts of Etche which was  later confirmed by the President  of the Etche  Farmers Cooperatives, Mr. Godwin  Akandu.