Caterpillar invasion costs Kano tomato farmers more than N2 billion

The invasion of caterpillar insects has cost tomato producers in Kano State about N2 billion, even as food prices continue to rise.

In a conversation with Vanguard, Mukhtar Kura, Chairman of M.K. Kura Farms in Butalawa, Kura Local Government Area, Kano State, discussed the enormous losses suffered by tomato growers and revealed that they are in excruciating pain due to the insects’ unanticipated incursion.

Kura claims that in 2023, farmers in two Kano State Local Government Areas—Bagwai and Dawakin Tofa—had a similar experience at the same time and suffered a loss of N1.5 billion due to the insects’ 24-hour work.

He said, “The number of hectares affected is estimated to be over 5,000 hectares of tomatoes and vegetables. Two-thirds of the total dry-season farmlands were affected.

“The tomato lost is valued at N2 billion within this short period. The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, in Bagwai LGA stated that the caterpillar insects identified as Sharoon, which they had never seen before, destroyed large farmland in 24 hours.

“The farmers had experienced similar invasion by the same insects at the same time in 2023, and they made a loss of N1.5 billion.”

According to him, the farmers have called on the state government to assist them in arresting the situation. The insects attack and destroy the leaves and fruit of the tomato. 

“On recent efforts by the farmers to reach out to the government, the chairman of AFAN at the Local Government Area appealed to the federal, state, and local government authorities to assist the victims to revive their agriculture stock. Some farmers, however, emphasized the need for agricultural extension workers to study the trend and take urgent steps to minimize their losses,” he said.

Meanwhile, an Agric expert, Engr Daniel Ijeh, while speaking to Vanguard, advised farmers to spray a chemical called Emamectin Benzoate on the tomato after 15 days of planting, which prevents the vector from perching and laying eggs to form the caterpillars.