Desperate Kerio valley Maize farmers have resorted to using form of concoctions to kill army worms which have destroyed acres of maize in the North rift.

The dangerous worm which threatens to render the food basket of the country without maize this season has seen farmers watch their maize get destructed by the resistant worm even after spraying with insecticides.

But to farmers in Kirumbopsoo, Baringo County have come up with home made spray that has salvaged the remaining maize from destruction from the worm.

According Jonathan Kiplagat, the spray that is a mixture of tobacco, ashes, omo and water has at least helped them to kill the worm. The worms which have invaded 100 of hectares threaten food security in the north rift where 75% of residents depend on maize as a staple crop.

“Since the army worms invaded our farms we have been spraying the worms with insecticides but it didn’t destroy the worms ,the worms continued ravaging our maize till we tried this home made insecticides and it has reduced the army worms in our farms,”said Mr. Kiplagat.

Kerio valley and Baringo entirely had been affected by drought which forced residents to survive on wild fruits and with the invasion of army worms threatens further famine in the region which will in turn force extend the  dependency of relief food which is not sustainable.

The farmers are wondering which seeds to use as they said some seeds are affected while others are not and now calling for government to provide insurance for  farmers to mitigate unforeseen calamities like this.