Kano Tomato Farmers Grapple With Devastating ‘Tuta Absoluta’ Resurgence.
Tomato farmers In Kano State are enduring severe hardship as the destructive Tuta Absoluta pest, dubbed “Tomato Ebola,” has made a destructive comeback, wreaking havoc on farms across Garun Malam, Kura, Bunkure, and Bagwai. The outbreak, confirmed by the Kano State chapter of the Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), has plunged farmers into despair, threatening their livelihoods and driving tomato prices skyward.
The Tuta Absoluta moth, notorious for its ability to obliterate tomato crops within 48 hours, has left farmers like Malam Alhassan Ubale from Kura reeling. “I’ve lost nearly everything,” Ubale lamented, surveying his wilted fields. “This pest is a nightmare.” TOGAN Chairman Alhaji Sani Danladi Yadakwari reported that early warnings from vigilant farmers led to the outbreak’s confirmation, but the scale of the damage is overwhelming. Since its first major assault in 2016, the pest has repeatedly devastated Kano’s tomato industry, with current estimates suggesting 4,621 hectares of farms, worth N1 billion, are affected. Without urgent action, losses could spiral to N20 billion, according to Abdullahi Maibreadi, Kano State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
The resurgence has compounded existing challenges. Farmers face soaring costs for pesticides, many of which are adulterated and ineffective, leaving them vulnerable. “We spend so much, but the chemicals don’t work,” said Tasiu Haruna, a farmer from Kaduna who has resorted to planting maize to offset losses. The pest’s impact has also triggered a 75% surge in tomato prices, as supply dwindles, placing additional strain on consumers and market traders nationwide.
Efforts to combat the pest have been hampered by delays and inefficiencies. While TOGAN has alerted the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, past interventions have yielded limited success. Farmers report frustration over the lack of accessible, climate-resistant seeds and reliable insecticides. “We’re fighting a losing battle,” said one farmer, who requested anonymity. The HortiNigeria programme, funded by the Dutch government, has trained some farmers in integrated pest management, but its reach remains limited, leaving many to fend for themselves.
Compounding the crisis, environmental factors like irregular rainfall and poor soil conditions have weakened crops, making them more susceptible to Tuta Absoluta. Research into solutions, such as green-synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles, offers hope but remains out of reach for most smallholder farmers due to cost and availability. “We hear about these innovations, but how do we access them?” Ubale asked.
For now, farmers are resorting to desperate measures, adjusting planting schedules or abandoning tomato cultivation altogether. The emotional toll is palpable. “This is our life’s work,” said Haruna. “Watching it destroyed is heartbreaking.” As the harvest season offers some respite, the looming threat of future outbreaks keeps farmers on edge, with many calling for more robust government support and affordable solutions.
The struggles of Kano’s tomato farmers underscore the fragility of Nigeria’s agricultural sector in the face of recurring pest invasions. Without swift and sustained intervention, the region’s tomato industry faces an uncertain future, leaving farmers to bear the brunt of a crisis beyond their control.
Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, Scientific Reports, HortiDaily, Daily Trust
