Over N1.5 billion worth of tomato plantations are said to have been destroyed by the recent attack of tuta absoluta, a tomato pest that is described as one of the most devastating insects affecting tomato crops.
Speaking to Daily Trust on the update of the pests attack, state chairman of the Tomato Out Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), Alhaji Sani Danladi Yadakwari, revealed that the association has started a mini census of affected farms in the already mapped out attacked areas, adding that so far, over 300 hectares of tomato plantation has been affected.
He further explained that the attack is gradually spreading to more farms in other areas across the tomato-producing areas in the state.
The TOGAN state chair further revealed that it was estimated that farmers in the state have lost over N1.5 billion worth of tomato plantations to the pest attack.
NEPC trains tomato exporters on addressing technical barriers. Similarly, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained 100 tomato farmers and exporters on addressing technical barriers associated with the tomato value chain to make it ready and qualified in other countries.
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