News in Brief:
– A caterpillar invasion in Nigeria’s Kano state has devastated tomato crops, causing over ₦2 billion in losses.
– The farmers are urging government assistance and experts recommend using chemicals to prevent future infestations.
Tomato farmers in Kano state, Nigeria, are facing financial hardship after a caterpillar infestation devastated their crops.
The unexpected invasion, estimated to have affected over 5,000 hectares of farmland, resulted in losses reported to exceed ₦2 billion within a short period.
Unfortunately, Kano tomato farmers are no strangers to such devastation. In 2023, a similar caterpillar invasion inflicted billions of Naira in losses.
This year’s attack is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding the culprit. While some experts believe it’s a newly identified species named Sharoon, its identity remains officially unconfirmed. This lack of knowledge poses a significant threat to local tomato production, making it difficult to develop effective control measures.
Meantime, farmers are urging the government to intervene and provide assistance. The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has appealed to federal, state, and local authorities to help farmers revive their agricultural stock.
Additionally, agricultural experts recommend spraying crops with Emamectin Benzoate after planting to prevent future infestations.
The attendant risk for consumers is that the prices of tomato (and tomato products) could rise as we witnessed during the Tuta absoluta infestation of 2023.
