Kyunhla, 10 April 

A training course on prevention and getting rid of armyworm which attack corn plantations was launched at the meeting hall of the Township Agriculture Department in Kyunhla Township, Kantbalu district, Sagaing region at 9:00 am yesterday. 

At the event, staff officer U Win Shwe of the District Agriculture Department said that over 100000 acres of monsoon corn are being grown annually in the district. As corn fetched a good price, 1448 acres of winter corn were grown in Kyunhla Township. 

Of which, 502 acres of corn plantations in five village-tracts were attacked by armyworms and staff from Agricultural Department at district, township level in collaboration with local farmers successfully got rid of those armyworms. The aim of the course is to prevent armyworms from destroying corn plantations the next season. 

Then, Dr. Myint Thaung, Retired Rector of Agricultural University said armyworm arrived en masse in Myingyan district, Nay Pyi Taw, Tatkone, Kengtong, Nyaungdon, Danuphyu, Zalun and Hinthada townships starting from 2018. A small number of armyworms were found in townships in Sagaing region such as Kyunhla, Myaung, Chaung-U, Kalay. 

Then, Dr. Myint Thaung, Deputy Director Dr. Kyin Kyin Win, officer in charge of crop protection unit, Agricultural Department ( Head Office) and Assistant Director Daw San San Myint, officer in charge of the region crop protection unit talked about the life cycle of armyworms, their habits, their destructive force and prevention measures, handing out pamphlets to the attendants. 

Afterwards, they inspected corn fields whether the fields are affected by armyworms. A total of 50 corn growers from wards, Shansu village-tract, Magyi Inn village-tract, Kyigone village-tract and Ywa Thee village-tract in the township attended the course.—Myo Win Nyo ( Kyunhla) 

Translated by Khine Thaw