Ramatu Garba
HortiNigeria, a horticultural Dutch-funded program implemented in Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states, has launched a campaign to control Tuta absoluta(tomato disease) in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano to enhance food security.
The Communication Coordinator of HortiNigeria, Feyikemi Adurogbangba, stated this during a media tour at the demonstration site in Gidan Kawri, Bunkure Local Government Kano.
She explained that the move was to educate and empower value chain actors, especially small holder farmers on effective pest management strategies.
“The campaign aims at reaching 5,000 farmers in Kano and its surroundings and facilitates connections between farmers and dealers of specialized agro solutions to combat the pestTuta absoluta”
International Fertilization Development Centre(IFDC), Business to Business Linkage Sector Coordinator, Abdullahi Umar pointed out that the campaign aims to demonstrate to farmers practices for controlling pests using integrated management (IPM).
“Tuta absoluta is very destructive, it ha ability to change itself like worm or seed”
While calling for increased awareness of tomato production, Umar urged farmers to use loamy soil, ensure spacing and use mulching materials such as rice hubs to manage tuta absoluta to achieve high yield.
He urged the media, farmers and other stakeholders to join the fight against tuta absoluta.
East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer(EWS-KT), Technical Specialist, Sebastian Agada stressed the need to show farmers best practices to fight against the disease to continue tomato farming all year round.
“Some farmers don’t take IPM measures to control the pest on their field and once a farm gets affected by tuta absoluta it leads to zero yield.
“Chemicals alone would no longer work to control the pest, that is why we brought Integrateded Pest Management (IPM) for food safety”
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Malam Ibrahim Yunus, commended HortiNigeria and promised to use the knowledge gained in accessing the right inputs as well as observe best farm practices.
HortiNigeria is a four-year initiative from 2021 to 2025, funded by the y Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Nigeria.
Implemented by IFDC, EWS-KT, Kit Royal Tropical Institute and Wageningen University of Research to enhance food security.
NAN