There are fears from the agriculture sector that this could lead to failure again by the Malawi government to reach desired food security levels of harvest in the next harvest year.

Spokesperson for the ministry of agriculture, Priscilla Mateyu, has acknowledged the concerns urging farmers in the affected districts to alert Agricultural extension workers on the location of the worms.

The ministry is distributing free chemicals to enable the farmers fight and control the devastating pests.

However, Mateyu says there are no immediate plans to provide seeds to farmers whose crops have completely been destroyed by the pests but has appealed to well-wishers to help the affected farmers so that they are able to replant.