Plaque that is ravaging our nation tomatoes

Tuta absoluta, aka the tomato leafminer, is ravaging tomato farms in the north-east, north-west and central regions of Nigeria–

The larvae attack the leaves of the tomato plant by feeding on them voraciously

– The ‘Tomato Ebola’ has the ability to wipe out a farm within days

– It has caused a colossal shortage in supply, with consequently sky-rocketing prices, increasing by at least five-fold

Just when the nation’s tomato farmers were beginning to reap the rewards of the government’s stopping of the importation of substandard tomato produce, which was costing Nigeria N80bn annually, there comes a plague that is threatening to wipe out tomato farms.Its devastating effects have prompted Nigeria’s and Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, to suspend production at his recently built tomato processing plant in northern Kano state because of a lack of tomatoes.

The culprit is a moth with the biological name tuta absoluta, aka the tomato leafminer, but now generally referred to as the ‘Tomato Ebola’, reflecting its destructive power in comparison to the dreaded Ebola virus.Tomato EbolaTuta absoluta is a grey-brown species of moth that is about 7mm long, with the ability to wipe out a farm within days.

A female pest can produce up to 260 eggs in 21 days. This reproductive capability, coupled with a lack of expertise concerning its control, were the reasons for its spread and the scale of the devastation.The tomato is the main host plant, but tuta absoluta also attacks other crop plants,including potato and pepper plants. Eight to ten generations can occur in a single year if the conditions are favourable.

Devastation

The larva attacks the leaves of the tomato plant by feeding on it voraciously, producing large galleries in leaves, and consuming green and ripe fruits, consequently causing up to 100% loss in yield in some farms.

Global spread

The moth was first identified as a tomato pest in 1927, when it was prevalent in many South American countries. It was first identified in Spain in 2006, before its detection in France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Morocco, Libya and Algeria.It continued its voracious appetite by infecting the Middle Eastern states of Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia.It further advanced to Africa, from Egypt to Sudan, Ethiopia, and Senegal, before being reported here in Nigeria.

source :http://www.tutaabsoluta.com/