Tomatoes farmers in Kano have lamented continued threats to their farm due to a pest that destroys tomatoes.
Kano State, despite being the largest producer of tomatoes in Nigeria, is struggling to contain the devastating effects of the Tuta Asoluta disease on tomato farms.
Junaidu Abdulsalam said the disease has left him and many farmers hopeless, “lost my entire farm worth over N1 million to the pest”.
According to Junaidu, challenge from the pest being faced by many farmers in Kano have made them suffered significant losses due to the disease.
Junaidu added that the pest which destroys the tomato plant is proving to be very difficult to control.
“It negatively affecting tomato production in the state and by extension in the country,” he said.
The Chairman of Tomatoes Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), Alhaji Sani Danladi Yadakwari, has called on the government to release pesticide to farmers and organize training sessions to equip them with the skills to use the pesticide effectively.
However, there is hope on the horizon. The Kano State Government, through the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), is working with organizations like Horti-Nigeria to address the challenges.
An official of KNARDA who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press said Horti-Nigeria has pledged to assist 60,000 farmers in Kano and other North West states to tackle Tuta Absoluta using innovative solutions and strategies.
He said plans have gone far to tackle the challenge and encourage tomato production.
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