By Hassan I. Conteh

The corns which are planted now by farmers are seriously being eaten up by some strange pests.

This strange occurrences still happen now since a farmer explained in August 2023 how the insects destroy their maize.

Joseph Kanu, who is an agriculturist in Waterloo says these are some “yellow and brown flies” that usually eat up the corn leaves younger.

“This is what we are affected by – the insects which are brown-yellow flies – would eat up the leaves when they’re just planted,” says Mr Kanu, at Faya Mambo, Waterloo.

“Years back we used to have fertilizers and pesticides supplied to us by Late President Tejan Kabba ( RIP) but now government doesn’t help us at all.”

Mr Kanu says even when there are projects by the government to help agriculturists to do farming, it is often done on favoritism.

“Sometimes you can seek for help especially us who love farming and have large farms but those who don’t have anything to do with farming business are the ones collecting the ‘big money’ and other farming supply without doing any farming work. But take that money and use it for their personal benefits, leaving us the poor farmers to suffer,” he said.

On protecting the young corns and beans he had planted, Mr Kanu said he is spending a lot on buying pesticides to control the pests he described as ” strange brown-yellow insects”.

This year he may not be able to plant more due to the short supply of the malatium pesticide.

“The malatium is dear and is not in abundance in the market. A five gallon will cost you Le1,800; the half gallon is sold Le80.”

“We don’t know where these yellow-brown flies are coming from that are affecting our young crops,” he doubted.

When harvesting his groundnuts farm by August 2023, Mr Kanu says he likes agriculture work because it gives him fast money.

“If I plant just on this small portion of land, I will expect more profits in thousands leones or million,” he said.

On the problem of pests penetration on farms, it is also believed that climate changes could be the main attributing factor.

Since there are bad weather conditions now with more sun rays due to the hot-burning sun, and with little rains and heavy breeze, the crops are withered at their tendrils.

Some plants-buds are being blown away by the heavy breeze and wind, farmers in Makoray village also have complained.

While also corn shoots can’t windstand the bad weather conditions now due to climate change.