A non-governmental HortiNigeria has launched a pest control campaign against a deadly disease wrecking havoc on tomatoes in Nigeria.
The tomato infection ‘Tuta Absoluta’ has persistent destroyed significant percentage of farmers investment, crippled production level and largely responsible for high cost of the vegetables in the market.
Unveiling the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) campaign amid farmers and other stakeholders at Gidan Kwari in Bunkure local government of Kano state, HortiNigeria lead sector enhancement officer, Abdullahi Umar said the techniques requires farmers to apply strategic measures ranges from cultural improved farming practices and the use of safe pesticides.
Umar disclosed that the campaign was designed to educate and empower value chain actors, especially small holder farmers on effective pest management strategies to effectively manage the attack of Tuta absoluta on tomato.
He explained that the campaign targeted to reaching at least five thousand farmers in Kano and the surrounding areas was anchored to fight against Tuta pest is a collective responsibility that needs all hands to be on deck for positive response to the implementation of the IPM techniques.
According to Umar, “Tuta absoluta pest is a stubborn pest that is very difficult and very expensive to manage. That is why NortiNigeria had came up with the IPM strategies that involves all measures of managing the pest, which research proved to be more effective and affordable,” he said.
Similarly, Communication Coordinator of the project Feyikemi Adurogbangba stated HortiNigeria has deliberately incorporate the media on the campaign to create veritable platform to educate and enlighten stakeholders about IPM strategies to check the impact of the pest.
Adurogbangba who emphasized the role of media in agenda setting, and awareness creation urged journalists to help disseminate the new technology in combating the attack on tomatos and
reduce farmer’s losses.
Farmers have recorded millions of naira value worth to Tuta Absoluta pest on Tomatoes in Kano and some part of the country.
HortiNigeria, a Dutch funded horticulture program is being implemented in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and Ogun states in the country in collaboration with some partners, has invested in several manpowered and developed farmers on best pest management.
(PEOPLE’S PEN24)