Farmers have warned that the spread of the fatal disease tuta absoluta would result in an impending increase in the price of fresh tomatoes.

The illness has reportedly harmed 300 hectares of crops, costing more than 500 farmers billions of naira in investments for the planting season of 2023, according to farmers speaking under the auspices of the National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria.

Sani Danladi, the National Secretary of the association who spoke at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja said the loss of yields would lead to scarcity and an increase in the price of tomatoes.

He explained that the pests, also known as tomato ebola, are voracious eaters and could destroy hectares of tomato farms within 72 hours.

He noted that the latest outbreak of the pest has affected some of the high-producing states for tomatoes including Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Gombe and Kastina states.

“We also want to inform Nigerians that this year, we have had low production of tomatoes and the little we planted has been destroyed by the pest.

“We are crying out to Nigerians, as we have to take a holistic approach to resolve this issue.

“We have to stop the spreading of these diseases. Currently, more than 300 hectares have been destroyed, affecting 500 farmers in Kano State only.

“It is spreading to Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, and Jigawa and that is why tomatoes are scarce now.”

Explaining some of the damages, the national secretary said 90 per cent of the produce in Kano State with an estimated cost of N1.5 billion had been destroyed, adding that an aggravated outbreak would threaten food security in the country.

Speaking further, the President of the Nigeria Agriculture Business Group, Emmanuel Ijewere, lamented the slow response to curb the pest when it was reported about a month ago.

“12 states in the North produce 85 per cent of tomatoes in Nigeria and five of them are badly affected right now.

“Kaduna, our biggest producer, Kano and Gombe have been badly affected.

“It is difficult to give figures but there will be a shortage of tomatoes and it will surely affect the price this year because the damage has been extensive”

Meanwhile, a Director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Deola Lordbanjou, however, called for calm, saying the ministry is doing everything in its power to control the situation.

“There will be a gathering of the stakeholders. In order to prevent further catastrophic losses for our farmers, the Federal Government is stepping in to stop it in its tracks.

“The government stepped up to investigate how to combat the disease’s resurgence.

We can’t stand by and watch as this insect decimates our farms once more, therefore a stakeholders meeting has been convened.