Nigeria: Tomato Farmers In Kano State Lose Over U.S.$3 Million In Pest Attack

Over N1.5 billion worth of tomato plantations have been destroyed by the recent attack of *tuta absoluta*, a pest described as one of the most devastating insects affecting tomato crops. Speaking to Daily Trust about the pest’s impact, Alhaji Sani Danladi Yadakwari, state chairman of the Tomato Out Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), said the association has begun a mini‑census of affected farms in the already mapped‑out areas. So far, more than 300 hectares of tomato plantation have been affected, and the attack is gradually spreading to other farms across the state’s tomato‑producing regions. Yadakwari estimated that farmers in the state have lost over N1.5 billion worth of tomato plantations to the pest.

In response to these losses, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained 100 tomato farmers, processors, marketers and exporters on addressing technical barriers in the tomato value chain. The training took place at the National Incubation Centre in Kano. Mr. Salam Ma’aruf Akinsola, NEPC’s regional coordinator for the Northwest, explained that the program aims to recoup losses, mitigate risks, and ensure Nigerian tomatoes are not rejected in global markets. “Most of our commodities are rejected, and as a government agency responsible for promoting non‑oil exports, we cannot stand by,” he said. “That is why we have embarked on a series of sensitizations across the country, so that our product can become more competitive abroad.”

Akinsola noted that tomato, an important global commodity, has strong export potential, especially from Kano, the country’s leading tomato‑producing state. He added that the United Kingdom recently reduced income tariffs by 7.5 % for selected Nigerian products, including tomatoes, giving exporters a better chance to attract markets and increase profits.

Earlier in the presentation, Gambo Isa Garko, director of extension at the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), highlighted that although about two million hectares of tomatoes are cultivated in Nigeria each year, 45 % of the produce is lost during processing and transport. He urged farmers and exporters to adopt improved farming and processing systems to compete effectively in global markets.