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Tomato Ebola: Firm recommends bio-organic solution


Following the devastating impact of Tuta Absoluta outbreak on tomato farms in the country, an agriculture firm has advised farmers to embrace bio-organic solution to combat its spread on their farms.

This is coming against the backdrop of recent reports by tomato farmers in Akko, Kwani and Yamltu-Deba Local Government Areas of Gombe State, on the resurgence of the disease.

Recall that the pest affected lot of farms last year, causing a basket of Tomato to sell for as high as N35, 000.

A statement signed by Project Coordinator, CONTEC Global Agro Limited (CGAL), Amanda Udoji advised tomato growers and farmers to embrace some of its bio range products, that are tested and found to be successful and effective in tackling the pest.

She pointed out that the biological organic solutions formulated in Nigeria was used by farmers in Kura council area of Kano in 2016, as remedy against the menace, adding that the combined application of Fixit GA product and other bio organic solutions against the pest saved tomato farmers millions of naira that would have gone down the drain last year.

Udoji said the breakthrough by the organic agro farm inputs provider, was attested to by the Kano State National FADAMA III Agricultural and Rural Development Project Director, Alhaji Shuaibu Suleiman, who in his appreciation to CGAL management, said: “To our surprise, we came to find out Tate products performed very well. We also found the use of a combination of (Fixity GA) product and other bio pesticides, brought about a good solution against Tuta Absoluta, which has been causing menace to tomato growers.”

According to Suleiman, CGAL product Fixit GA, proved to be solution against Tuta Absoluta, adding that the success story of the company needs to be broadcast across the country, to guard against the outbreak.

The Project Coordinator recommended that farmers should follow the CGAL crop figment treatment to eliminate the pest attack on recently transplanted tomato seedlings.

“Also maize cultivators should look out for the fall army worm, which is a threat that can devastate maize cultivation.”

To mitigate the ravaging effect of the pest, which led to scarcity of tomatoes across the country, Udoji advised tomato growers to avoid imported inorganic chemicals, while corroborating a recent report by an online medium that the pest is resistant to chemicals in the market.

A new pesticide to fight the dangerous pest, Tuta absoluta, currently ravaging tomato farms in the country has been developed, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has said.

Dr Onu, who revealed the new discovery at a press conference in Abuja Friday, said the new pesticide will solve the problem of tomato shortage being experienced by Nigerians.

The new pesticide is very effective against the ‘tuta absoluta’ otherwise known as ‘Tomato Ebola’ and it will soon be released to the farmers, according to the minister, who did not give the name of the pesticide.

“…And very recently the nation woke up to hear a pest ravaged our tomato farms in many parts of the country. We as a nation recorded a lot of losses and as a result of that our factories were unable to get enough supply of tomatoes and had to shut down. Fortunately for us, a new pesticide has just been developed by the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria. It is very effective against the new tomatoes pest, by name Tuta absoluta,” Dr Onu said.

He said researchers working for the government had been having sleepless nights on how to tame the dangerous pest since its coming few months ago.

He commended the NARICT scientists for coming up with the new solution, saying the institute has saved the country billions of naira which would have been used to import pesticide from abroad.

Good progress made in fight against armyworms

Summary of the news

It was noted that not all products registered for control of the African armyworm in Kenya are effective for FAW control.
Users should alternate the pesticides to prevent build-up of resistance.

Farmers are advised to use the pesticides as per the label directions and to always observe the requisite post-harvest and re-entry intervals.

We highly encourage farmers to use personal protective equipment during pesticide application. This will minimise their exposure to the pesticides.

Kenya is making major steps in tackling the risk posed by the ravenous fall armyworm (FAW).

A team constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture offers hope that the country can effectively deal the pest a knockout blow and protect food crops.

The fall armyworm, a gluttonous pest, has been reported in parts of the country, evoking fear in the farming community. This deadly insect pest can inflict heavy damage on crops within a short time if not stopped.
Scientifically known as Spodoptera frugiperda, the fall armyworm has invaded farms in Baringo, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Siaya and Uasin Gishu counties.

It feeds on a large variety of plants, such as cereals, pasture, legumes, bananas, tomatoes, collard greens, capsicum, spinach, cabbage, onions, cucumber and sunflower. All these are important food crops in Kenyan households.

The good news is that pesticides offer an effective means to quickly control this voracious pest. However, the Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK) supports an integrated pest management approach for sustainable control of the pest.

The Ministry of Agriculture initiated this approach recently when it convened a multi-institutional team comprising agrochemicals companies, researchers, Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), to look into ways of mitigating further losses and the spread of the worm.

The team is led by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Mr William Bett.

The committee is mandated to perform several tasks, including to create awareness on the identification of the pest and its characteristics.

They will undertake surveillance and monitoring of the insect’s activities, and identify and fill technical control gaps through research.

Lastly, the team will deploy immediate control operations in affected areas using effective pesticides.

REGULAR SCOUTING

A list of 45 pesticides with potential of FAW control was presented to the panel by the AAK member companies.

The claims had to be supported by evidence showing registration for FAW control in another country or peer reviewed technical literature.

It was noted that not all products registered for control of the African armyworm in Kenya are effective for FAW control.

The Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders narrowed down the list to those pesticides proven to be effective in FAW control through registration in other countries.

The nine products recommended for the control of FAW are Orthene Peller, Vantex 60 CS, Coragen 205C, Avaunt 150 BC, Marshal 250EC, Fastac 10 EC, Voliam Targo d63 SC, Belt 480 SC and Match 50 EC.

AAK would like to assure the public that its members are committed to providing quality pest control products that offer effective elimination of FAW from farms.

Farmers are advised to use the pesticides as per the label directions and to always observe the requisite post-harvest and re-entry intervals.

Users should alternate the pesticides to prevent build-up of resistance. They should further perform regular scouting to target the most vulnerable stages of the pest.

We highly encourage farmers to use personal protective equipment during pesticide application. This will minimise their exposure to the pesticides.

Already, AAK has trained professional spray service providers in Nakuru, Kericho and Uasin Gishu counties. They are at hand to assist in the application of pesticides.

The writer is the CEO of the Agrochemicals Association of Kenya, and also of CropLife Kenya (email: evelyn@agrochem.co.ke)