EAST AFRICA:REGION FIGHTS FALL ARMY WORM INVASION MAIZE, SUGARCANE FARMS UNDER ATTACK.

kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have allocated more than $7.85 million for the purchase of specialised chemicals to fight the fall army worm, which is now threatening to wipe out the maize and sugarcane crop.

The destructive pest has wreaked havoc in Southern Africa in the past four months.

On April 5, Kenya said some of its maize fields had been attacked by the army worm, a threat to the country's already thin grain reserves as it seeks to avert $117 million in crop losses.

The same day, Uganda allocated $6.85 million towards the purchase of the chemicals, to save its farmers from a loss of 450,000 tonnes of grain valued at $200 million.

Uganda's Agriculture Minister Christopher Kibazanga said they were developing short- and long-term plans to contain the army worm.

"As an emergency measure, we have already set aside $6.85 million for the purchase of appropriate pesticides known to have worked successfully elsewhere in the control of army worms. So far, we have confirmed damages to both the maize and sugarcane crops," Mr Kibazanga said.Two weeks ago, Uganda said the army worm had infested its maize fields, leaving this year's harvest in doubt and heightening concerns that Kenya would also be affected.