Tuta Absoluta a devastator to tomatoes

As the planting seasons begin, a series of activities that are geared towards good returns after harvesting accompany it. Farmer’s tirelessly work around the clock to ensure the chain of events involved are accomplished while putting precautionary measures to avoid losses.

 Expectations of a bumper harvest run high as time goes. Feeling of financial freedom hazes the air. Vagaries of nature at times give these expectations a detour by causing devastation to the crops some to a point of zero yields, ushering a cloud of frustrations to farmers who have invested a lot in the given venture.

 Tuta Absoluta for a long time now has wrecked havoc on the tomato production in most parts of the world. Kenya for the resent past hasn’t recorded it, but 2014 has tainted this record.

Being an emerging pest in Kenya, it was first reported in Isiolo in early 2014 but has managed to spread to most parts of the country. Meru, Nairobi, Njoro, Kakamega, Loitoktok, Lamu and Kakamega have recorded incidences of this pest infestation. “The nose diving production levels of tomatoes in Kenya and the frequent sea of complains from all the production baskets, necessitated an impromptu scientific intervention to help curb the surging threat levels posed by this pest”, said Dr Lusike, Deputy Director Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.

A series of emergency meetings that served as awareness campaigns had to be convened. K.A.R.I (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute) headquarters and Mr. Muthomi Ernest, the Technical Director KenGap Horticulture organized a symposium on 4^th July 2014, which saw over 400 delegate’s troop to the facility in an effort to curb the devastating effects of this pest. They included Farmers, Agricultural Extension Agents, Agrochemical Input Suppliers, Scientists, Government Agencies, Development Partners and Financial Institutions.

 “It is an adult moth that is mostly active at night when it lays eggs. Their larva is the most destructive stage of the pests’ life cycle lasting for 8-12days with four instars. The caterpillar burrows leaves indiscriminately on the middle tissue leaving a burning trail. It burrows the stems causing breakages. Fruits face the full wrath of caterpillars because they make tiny holes on them causing rotting”, explains The Chief Guest, Prof. Muni Muniappan, Director, Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab, USA.

The warm temperatures around the tropics provide an ambient temperature for the pest to multiply fast and in large colonies. The destructive trail that these colonies leave has prompted intervention of key players in the tomato supply chain in an effort to mitigate these losses. “Since its detection in Spain in 2006, it has spread rapidly across Southern Europe and North Africa to engulf the whole of the Mediterranean countries. To date its presence has been reported in Italy, France, Malta, United Kingdom, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Albania during last two years.” He adds.

Various control mechanisms have been used on the pest but it has proved to be a hill climb. “Tuta possesses a very short life cycle of about 30-35days making it able to multiply very fast and its control an endless endeavor. Effectiveness of chemical control is limited due to insect’s nature of damage as well as its rapid capability of development of insecticide resistant strains”, elucidates Dr. Hassan Nayum of Russell IPM manufacturers and supplies.

Some of the control methods that have been developed by Russell IPM and proved to be effective are;

1.)    Pheromone traps to attract the males and thus leaving the females to lay unfertilized eggs which won’t hatch to larvae.

2.)    Sticky traps which are black in color that is effective in the control of both male and females.

3.)    Cultural Practices involves removing the damaged plant materials and burning them completely.

4.)    Crop rotation to help break the pest cycle.

5.)    Biological control by using bio-agents like egg parasitoids Trichogramma achaeae that prey on the eggs of Tuta absoluta.

Following the destructive effects of this pest and the economic toll that ‘Tuta’ has taken on the production of tomatoes. Farmers around the globe have to brave the effects for some time before an ultimate solution is found. This will be farfetched if the current situation stands as it is.