Once more, tomato farms in Kano State face an onslaught from the lethal tuta absoluta pest, sparking worries of an imminent tomato scarcity. Naija News comprehends that tomatoes are cultivated extensively in regions afflicted by pests, such as Bagwai, Shanono, Kura, Garin Malam, Bebeji, Bunkure, Rano, Kibiya, and sections of Tudun Wada and Dawakin Kudu local government areas within the state.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Abdullahi Maibreadi, the Kano State chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), expressed distress over the persistent invasion of tuta absoluta. He revealed that this issue has troubled numerous farmers for nearly 12 years, leading some to contemplate quitting.
According to Maibreadi, AFAN’s assessment indicates that 4,621 hectares of tomato farms, valued at N1 billion, are currently affected by the disease. He emphasized that without intervention within the next one to two weeks, Kano farmers could face losses ranging from N10 billion to N20 billion.
“This disease, tuta absoluta, also known as ‘Sharon’ in Hausa, has persisted for the past 12 years despite farmers’ relentless efforts to combat it. It has devastated numerous farms, causing leaves to wither upon contact and rendering the fruit unusable due to burning, rot, and subsequent waste,” Maibreadi explained.
Maibreadi underscored the unfortunate timing of the disease outbreak, occurring subsequent to farmers’ investments in their crops, resulting in substantial losses.
He urged both state and federal governments to intervene by supplying farmers with certified seeds and quality insecticides to minimize losses. Furthermore, he appealed for aid to okra farmers who were affected by a similar outbreak in the preceding season. Maibreadi stressed the necessity for government cooperation with international companies to procure and distribute agricultural inputs to avert such losses, which have a detrimental effect on the nation’s economy.
