Tomato.
The pest (Scientifically known as Tuta absoluta) that first hit the
horticulture sector at Ngarenanyuki area on the slopes of Mount Meru
mid-2014 and later spread to Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara Regions
have led to the price of a carton of tomatoes hovering at Sh60,000
($35.3), up from Sh16,000 ($9.4) in January 2015.
Michael Barnaba, a tomato grower at Ngarenanyuki said the
infestation had cut the harvests by more than 80 per cent with only a
fifth of the harvest being realised in the last season at his farm.
He said Ngarenanyuki growers, where the crop is grown four times a
year, producing over 26,000 tonnes per season and about 104,000 tonnes a
year have so far opted to grow other crops.
Meru District Council trade officer Nuru Mollel said, the pests
will affect production and income to both farmers and the government
because tomatoes grown in the area were consumed locally in the major
cities but also exported to Kenya and other Europe markets.
Experts in the sector have repeatedly warned that should the pest
continue devastating tomatoes, the country stands to lose nearly Sh300
billion ($176.5 million) in export this year alone.
They say, in the worst cases, the pest infestation could lead to
100 per cent loss of the crop, as it was feeding on different kinds of
crops (highly polyphagous ) and could attack a wide range of
(solanaceaous) crops sharing a family with tomato including potatoes,
brinjals, and Mnafu.
Dr Brigitte Nyambo from African Insect Science for Food and Health
said the disease which was first reported in the northern Tanzania’s,
have spread to the coast regions in Tanga and Morogoro.
According to him, an estimated 45,000 smallholder farmers in
Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro and Tanga Regions are engaged in the
production of fruits and vegetables including tomatoes.
The recent survey by Tanzania Agriculture Sample Census indicates
that tomato growers are producing 518,312 metric tonnes per year,
representing 51 per cent of the total fruit and vegetable production.
Contacted for comment on the spread of the disease, the Tanzania
Horticultural Association (TAHA)’Chief Executive Officer, Jacqueline
Mkindi said her association had financed the survey whose scientific
findings it shared with the government for a joint pest control plan.
“Basing on information from tomato growers, the pest, which does
not respond to existing control measures, is new to the areas,” she
said.
Ms Mkindi said concerted efforts to identify an appropriate
management plan are required in curbing the pest, as survey show the
damage arising from the disease is considerably high.
She also blamed the government and stakeholders for the delays in
controlling the pest since it was first reported mid last year.
Vivian Munisi a trader at Arusha central market said there has been
a high demand of tomatoes since January this year because of low
production resulting from tomato leaf minor destruction, saying the
prices are expected to rise even more.
Tertius Luanda, a farmer from Morogoro region said as of Wednesday,
the tomato farm gate prices in the region stood at Tsh50,000 ($29.41)
per carton, up from Tsh5,000 ($3) before the pest struck.
Esther Urassa, a tomato consumer in the region says she is compelled to skip tomato in some meals due to spiraled prices.
As of last week, the government was still tight-lipped over the
control measures, as Magole farm, the biggest commercial producer of
tomato based in Morogoro counting loses following the pest destruction
to its 14 hectares.
“We have lost nearly 1,000 metric tonnes of tomato worth Tsh700
million ($411,764),” the Assistant Farm Manager, James Murege said.
Tomato leaf miner is an invasive foreign pest from South America to
affect the country since independence and is so far threatening to wipe
out the country’s crop dubbed ‘red gold’.
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