Heat wave kills Mopane worms.

Heat wave kills Mophane worms, harvesters return home

The recent heat wave and lack of rain has severely affected Mophane worms which have been visible in some areas of Boteti and Tutume sub-Districts. Due to these weather conditions, a great number of Mophane worms have since died and most harvesters who were issued with harvester’s permits have stopped harvesting and returned home.

This is according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism through the Department of Forestry and Range Resources on January 14, 2016. The release says, harvesting sites like Karowe, Orapa, Nkwanapedi and Keazowa have since been abandoned.

However, a few harvesters are said to be still visible in Kgarapa and Matsitama areas where the worms are still visible but almost finished.

A total of 150 Harvesters permits were issued in the Boteti area while 1662 were issued in the Tutume sub district. The Department applauds harvesters in the Mentioned sub districts for having been very cooperative in terms of harvesting standards as well as for the good practice. However, the department is still concerned with some people who harvest Phane without permits and in some cases harvesting Phane before it matures.

“Phane should be harvested at maturity to allow some of it to escape and burrow the ground to become stock for the next season/ generation,” read the release in which the Department reminded the public that harvesting permits are only issued to citizens and that only persons whose names appear on the permits are allowed to harvest.

It said this is because in some areas non-citizens were found harvesting Phane claiming to have been hired by citizens, an incident punishable according to Agricultural Resources Conservation Act.

Given the unpredictable weather conditions, harvesters are advised to avoid spending long hours in the bush to avoid dehydration, to always practice proper waste disposal and also use fire with great care.