Crops ruined as agro pest raises head in several parts of the country

COLOMBO (News 1st): While the drought devastates lives in one part of the island, farmers in North Western and Southern Provinces are enduring untold hardships due to the spread of an agricultural pest. A species of a caterpillar is spreading fast in the North Western Province, damaging crops and ruining harvests. Experts believe this caterpillar is similar to the Fall Army Worm, that devastated crops in many parts of Sri Lanka a few months ago. The farmers claim that hundreds of acres of land have been damaged so far. The pests have reportedly fed on the paddy stem and leaf and have spread rapidly over past two weeks. According to our News 1st correspondent, the caterpillars have even begun feeding on grass, which will impact livestock. Meanwhile, farmers in the Matara District are battling a crisis caused by the spreading of a species of worm. According to the farmers, the worms have destroyed more than 60 acres of land by feeding on the paddy stem and its leaf. These farmers who have invested their life savings on these crops are now left helpless, looking on as their only hope is destroyed before their very eyes. As announcements of elections are made. as politicians and political parties up their rhetoric on various platforms, the question remains who will care for the people?