The scarcity of tomatoes seems to be coming for Nigerians as farmers in the five major tomato-producing states in the country are counting their losses of over N5.6 billion (€11.2 mln) in one month as tuta absoluta ravaged their farms. It mainly concerns farmers in Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Jigawa, and Plateau states.
Tuta absoluta is a species of moth in the family Gelechiidae. It is a serious pest of tomato crops with larvae causing up to 100% loss if not effectively controlled. It caused a national disruption to the tomato value chain in 2015 and 2016.
Source: independent.ng