As prices of tomatoes shoot through the roof due to the outbreak of Tuta Absoluta, a deadly tomato disease, a group known as HortiNigeria has expressed the determination to assist 60,000 Tomato farmers to tackle the disease in two states of the federation.
Tuta Absoluta is described as a major setback to Tomato farming that causes zero yield to farmers.
The Group Team lead Business linkage and advocacy Abdullahi Umar revealed this in Gidan Kwari community of Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano state where it demonstrated how the chemical and biological pest method of Integrated Pest Management IPM was coordinated for a greater Tuta management both environmentally and economically.
He said, “we have targets to reach up to 60,000 farmers between Kano and Kaduna, so if we meet in certain locations after training for twelve months, we move to other locations that do something similar.”
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Umar explained that other components of the program will continue such as access to Finance and access to markets to enable farmers to scale up their business.
He noted that, after successful advocacy and training on the Tuta Absoluta, the next objective is to link the small holder Tomato farmers with companies that produce Tuta Absoluta solutions.
“This is so because when they develop interest they know where exactly to buy and we will also continue to follow up with the farmers to ensure what they produce will link up to the market.The program is not only about educating the farmers but also, they get market value.”
Also, the Technical specialist from Eastwesteed Knowledge Transfer under HortiNigeria Mr. Sabastine Agada Obaje, spoke during the demonstration in some farms in the community, where Tomatoes were harvested after undergoing a few weeks of Tuta Absoluta management.
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According to Obaje, the farmers were gathered in order to demonstrate to them how to combat Tuta Absoluta for better Tomato yield.
He identified Tuta Absoluta as a major setback to Tomato farming that causes zero yield to farmers.
“Today we are harvesting on our plot and we brought them to show them some of this Integrated Pest Management IPM that we have demonstrated for them to also replicate and continue to grow their Tomato all year round.”
Obaje expressed the commitment in supporting Tomato farmers in the state to enable them grow quality Tomato.
Some Tomato farmers who spoke in an interview in Hausa said, the recent farming techniques have helped in reducing risk and waste of tomato produce.
They added that the technique has helped in boosting Tomato yields.
