THE Treasury has released K30.8 million to combat army worms which has ravaged thousands of maize fields.

In a statement issued today, Ministry of Finance media and public relations head Chileshe Kandeta stated that the funds were meant restore the agriculture sector which was currently under threat.

“The treasury has so far released K30.8 million to assist in the fight against army worms and help restore the smooth progress of the current agriculture season. Of this amount, K24.8 million has been channeled through the Ministry of Agriculture and K6 million through the Disaster Mitigation and Management Unit in the office of the Vice-President,” Kandeta stated.

He also stated that finance minister Felix Mutati had described army worms as a threat to economic diversification.

“We will crash the army worms and their cohorts with ferocious intensity. Army worms are a threat to economic diversification because they are adversely affecting agriculture development which is at the core of the initiative,” Kandeta quoted Mutati as saying.

He also stated that Mutati would visit Kafue tomorrow to assess the extent of the problem and to inspect the site for a new toll gate in Shimabala area.