Tomato farms shrinking due to deadly insect

When he travelled to Marigat in Baringo County, from Kakamega, Said Saad was impressed by tomato production in the semi-arid region.

Saad saw the potential of tomato growing at the region’s Perkerra irrigation scheme and decided to lease land for the economically viable venture.

In 2000, armed with Sh20,000 as capital, he leased a quarter of an acre to venture into agri-business. Every morning he would be expectant with hope, seeing many lorries flocking the region to buy tomatoes from farmers.

The proceeds from his small venture allowed him to increase his acreage and by the beginning of this year, he had manged 10 acres in which he invested over Sh1 million.

But things turned out for the worse with infestation of a moth; tuta absoluta in the area.

A visit to most farms by SmartHarvest established that the insect has invaded the tomatoes forcing farmers to scale down tomato farming or abandon it completely.

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Saad harvested an average 1,500 crates in his 10 acre farm, but 200 crates were good after selection selling each crate at Sh5,000, the money he says was a great loss.

Worrying trend

“I was attracted into tomato farming after my brother, then agricultural officer at Marigat, took me to some prosperous farmers during a field visit. I have continuously increased acreage under tomatoes but last year, I was a sad farmer,” he says.

Despite proper management practices, he realised that during fruiting stage, there were holes on most fruits. He also observed that the tomato trees were withering before ripening.

Before infestation of the insect, he says he harvested an average 300 quality crates per acre; this has since reduced to 100 that comes with increased cost of production.

“Loss of tomato begins from the farm and on reaching market, consumers are not willing to purchase them due to infestation of the insect that also causes rotting,” he says as he selects quality harvested fruits.

He claims consumers have been purchasing the produce and later returning over claims that they are infested with pests. This forces him to pack more tomatoes to meet market demand including convincing them of quality.

“It is worrying, some consumers purchase tomatoes but later return them on grounds that they are rotten. This highly affects tomato business because as traders, we bear the losses that are now beyond our control,” he adds.

Tomato is currently selling at Sh50 for every 14 fruits compared to Sh100 before infestation of the deadly insect.

Tuta absoluta insect which originated from Ethiopia, feeds on all parts of tomato plants and causes severe crop damage of up to 80 to 100 per cent.

The insect’s larvae produce large galleries in leaves, apical buds, and green and ripe fruits leaving tomato fruit with marks, abnormal shape, exit holes, rotting of the fruit due to secondary infective agent and frass.

To control infestation, the farmer must spray the crop thrice a week using coragen, belt and pegusus chemicals available in local agrovets at between Sh1,500 to Sh3,000 per acre depending on the chemical advised.

Due to his passion in tomato farming and high market demand with better prices, he insists on continuing with the crop under proper management practices.

“Tomato is well paying. I have raised money to educate my six children and invested in various projects back in my ancestral home. Quitting tomato farming is like hanging myself,” he observes.

Another farmer Sammy Gachemi has also been forced to reduce his acreage of tomato production due to anticipated losses. Gachemi has reduced his acreage from eight to five.

He says after the insect was reported in the area, cost of production has gone up.

He planted his tomato in April and was expecting to earn a profit of Sh5 million only to get Sh1.5million after they were infested by the insect.

To curb total loss of the crop to the pest, he observes farm hygiene that entails timely weeding-two weeks after planting and often application of chemicals.

Spraying of the crop cost him an average Sh3,000 weekly on one acre.

“The pest requires regular spraying. This is costly. Sadly they have become resistant to our pesticides,” he says.

Irrigation of the crop is also costly according to the farmer who pumps water from Pekera River.

The farmers are calling on the government through ministry of Agriculture and research institutions to find a lasting solution to the insect menace.

“Most residents are likely to languish in poverty due to this pest that has left most farms bare. These farms could currently be green with a lot of buyers and investors coming around but it is sad, rate of flow has reduced drastically,” he adds.

Baringo County Executive Member of Agriculture Luka Rotich says the first time the insect was reported in the area was early last year.

Rotich states immediately the insect was reported, agricultural stakeholders have held a number of meetings with researchers to come up with a lasting solution.