State steps up measures to contain deadly maize disease

The Government has asked farmers to burn tracts of maize fields and plant alternative crops to mitigate the spread of a deadly maize virus. that has the potential to wipe out 80 per cent of the crop, a senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture said.

The disease - maize lethal necrosis - has caused fears of soaring food prices in the country, which faces a deficit of the staple every year and bridges the gap through imports from Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi.