Tuta absoluta, one of the most devastating pests affecting tomato crops, is the main cause of the soaring prices of tomatoes across Nigeria.
Also, climate change is affecting the production output of the vegetables. Tomato farmers are reeling in pain over the unexpected invasion of the insects.
A tomato seller at the popular Mile 12 Market in Lagos, said that a basket of quality fresh tomatoes, which sold between N50,000 and N80,000 in April, now sells for between N140,000 and N150,000.
Tuta absoluta is a species of moth in the family of Gelechiidae, which is also known by the name tomato leaf miner or ‘Tomato Ebola’.
It is well known as a serious pest of tomato crops in Europe and South America.
This infestation has caused many households to dig deeper into their pockets to buy tomatoes.
In Nigeria, it was first detected in Daura, Katsina state, in April 2015, in Kano state two months later and in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in September of the same year. It has since spread to all the other tomato-producing states in the country.
In 2016, the Kaduna State government declared a state of emergency in the state’s tomato sector due to the pest attack on farms.
According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), six tomato-producing states, including Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe, Plateau, and FCT, were affected by the pest in 2017.
Currently, the tomato Ebola is affecting Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the federal government is taking immediate action to combat this issue.
Kyari in a statement posted via his X handle said: “A significant number of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs.
“Our ministry is taking immediate action to combat this issue. We are deploying agricultural experts to affected areas to contain and eliminate the infestation. Additionally, we are supporting our farmers with the necessary resources and guidance to recover their crops as quickly as possible, just as we instituted the Ginger Blight Control Taskforce.
“We understand the impact this has on your daily lives and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time,” he added.
Meanwhile, the increase in the prices of jollof rice’s primary ingredients (tomatoes and fresh pepper) could further exacerbate the amount Nigerians spend on their cherished delicacy as Eid El-Kabir approaches.
