Africa loses 25% to maize diseases.

Africa has been losing up to 25% of maize harvest due to pests and insects such as stem borers that damage emerging leaves of young maize. Stem borers are a class of insect pests, made up of a number of moth species distributed around the world, which lay their eggs at night on underside of emerging leaves of young maize plants. The larvae or caterpillars, that hatch from the eggs i.e. the borers quickly make their way inside the plant, where they feed undisturbed by predators. Due to the seriousness of stem borers among others, the scientists at the Regional Rice Research and Training Centre at Namulonge in Uganda have kicked off an investigation to determine the origin and develop resistance. One of the scientists at Namulonge, Grace Abalo said maize is a major food crop in Africa, especially in the eastern and southern regions of the continent.