Nigeria: tomato harvest threatened by Tuta Absoluta outbreak

Nigerian farmers have expressed concern over a recent outbreak of the Tuta Absoluta virus infestation, which is seriously affecting tomato production and raising market prices across the country. Tuta Absoluta, popularly known as the tomato leaf miner, is a pest affecting tomato crops on several continents. Its larvae can destroy a whole harvest if not effectively controlled. Farmers nicknamed the pest “Tomato Ebola” to underline its destructive potential. Moreover, Tuta Absoluta can breed 10 and 12 generations in a year, with the female laying up to 300 eggs within its lifetime.
Rabiu Zuntu, chairman of the Tomato Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria, said the recent outbreak started in March and has affected tomato prices in local markets. In northern regions, a 50 Kg basket of tomatoes has arrived to cost N30,000 due to the infestation. Before that, the same basket was sold between N5000 and N10,000. According to Zuntu, the outbreak was favoured by unusually high temperatures which caused humidity in the soil. He urged to implement preventive measures to curb the spread of the infestation, applying the Integrated Pest Management approach. On his part, the national president of the Tomatoes and Orchard Processors Association of Nigeria (TOPAN), Bola Oyeleke, said the outbreak had a minimal effect on prices because the crop is already in its harvest stage. However, he acknowledged that the Tuta Absoluta virus is a major problem for tomato cultivation in Nigeria. In response, farmers should start introducing more technology for land preparation to forestall future outbreaks.