As we have previously reported, the tomato pest Tuta absoluta is ravaging Nigeria's tomato crops, now the Bauchi State chairman of the Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), Ahmed Barau has disclosed that the majority of tomato farmers are facing financial ruin, especially in the northern part of the country.
Ahmed Barau was speaking at a one day regional workshop on sustainable and bio-rational solutions for Tuta absoluta, jointly organized by a United Kingdom based Rusell IPM and Agronet Nigeria Limited for tomato growers, processors and marketers.
According to him, tomato farmers had been subjected to a lot of hardship due to the damage and are unable to cover their debts.
“Farmers are in need of assistance now or they will be eliminated from the sector for life. This Tuta absoluta has indeed dealt a big blow to tomato farmers in the affected areas. Most of these farmers are broke now and can’t go back to farm this coming season,” narrated Barau.
Earlier, Kano state commissioner of Agriculture Nasiru Gawuna, represented by the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) Professor Mahmud Daneji, said tomato farmers in the state lost about N1.5 billion to the pest, adding that about 1450 hectares of tomato was affected in the 30 affected local government areas in the state. He added that, the state government had set up a committee comprising every stakeholder and a report will be submitted to the governor soon.
Similarly, in his address the Managing Director, Dangote Tomato Company, Abdulkareem Kaita stated that, if the issue of Tuta was not handled effectively, it would cripple federal government’s attempt to revive agriculture.