Yellow aphid pest hits Chiredzi sugar plantations

Zim Now Writer

Lowveld sugar plantations have been hit by a yellow aphid outbreak as farmers and other stakeholders pool resources towards controlling the pest.

This comes as the aphid outbreak is threatening this year’s output of the strategic crop, hence calls for stakeholders to join hands in fighting the pests.

In 2022, sugar producers lost around five percent of their revenue to the yellow aphid pest with the Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Sation pushing engagement efforts with cane outgrowers to control the pests that have hit almost all three sugar plantations in Chiredzi – Triangle, Hippo Valley and Mkwasine.

“Aphids are predominant around October in summer. From September to around March, the industry is hit by aphids. We urge farmers to monitor young cane, especially in October. We also urge farmers to apply Actara during planting as this may prevent the cane from being ravaged by aphids. Aphids also thrive in grasses and weeds found at the edges of the fields. Farmers should constantly weed their fields and spray their fields using the prescribed insecticides,” said Concillia Mukanga, ZSAES senior research entomologist.