Tuta Absoluta, also known as “Tomato Ebola,” is wreaking havoc on tomato farms in various parts of Nigeria, leading to an economic loss of up to N1.3 billion. The pest has caused significant damage to tomato crops, with scarcity expected to occur in the near future.
This collaborative effort involving the Federal Government, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Hort Nigeria, Nigerian Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Sygenta, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and others, is aimed at addressing the menace of Tuta Absoluta, commonly referred to as Tomato Ebola, which is currently devastating tomato farms in several states in Nigeria, leading to huge economic losses estimated at about N1.3 billion. At a briefing supported by the Netherlands, Horti Nigeria raised the alarm over the infestation of this destructive pest, which is causing massive damage to tomato farms in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Gombe States.
The President, NABG, Emmanuel Ijewere, said stakeholders have resolved, therefore declared total ‘War’ on the invading insects.
Ijewere pointed out that the worrisome development cannot be left alone for the farmers as NABG was organising a stakeholders’ meeting to address the challenge, because it is the farmers who are the major sufferers and not even the processors, in the sense that they have invested heavily on their farms for tomato production.
He said: “Tuta Absoluta is an insect that has ravaged tomato farms and from what we have discovered, the insect is very devastating to the tomato and is so smart.
“The insects have decided to build their homes under the leaves and when the insecticide is sprayed it doesn’t affect them.
“The affected states are mainly Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Gombe, but the insects don’t need visa to go to any other states as far as the conditions are right.
“Climate change has enhanced the movement of pests around the field; the warm environment helps them to spread wide, increased humidity allow these pests to thrive, hence the new outbreak of Tuta Absoluta.
We are glad to have the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development here and we are working together to solve this problem.
