They appeared in Kagitumba marshland, Matimba Sector, Nyagatare District where about 350 hectares have been damaged.
Army worm infests cereals such as corn, sorghum, and beans among others.
Last year, the pests heavily damaged residents’ crops across the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources reported that 15,699 hectares were damaged, representing 24.7% of all the land on which corn, sorghum and soybeans were cultivated.
There are concerns that the pests that started from Nyagatare District may spread across the country.
Nyagatare District vice mayor in charge of economic affairs, Steven Rurangwa said that if nothing is done to avert them, pests will negatively impact food security.
“We have no food insecurity today, but we fear that 22,778 hectares of the district could be affected, which would be bad news for farmers,” he said.
When this infestation started last year, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) took the lead in the eradication of the pest by ensuring rapid delivery of required insecticides.
Joseph Higiro, the officer in charge of fighting pests and diseases at Rwanda agriculture Board (RAB) asked farmers to follow the instructions of the system of crop rotation which lessens armyworm attack.
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