Lagos – The Tomatoes and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) on Friday urged tomato farmers to properly prepare their lands for six months before farming.
TOPAN’s Chairman, Mr Bola Oyeleke, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that tomatoes should be properly spaced when planting.
The chairman made the remark against the backdrop of the ‘Tuta absoluta’ (Tomato Ebola) pests ravaging tomato plantations across the country, especially in Kaduna and parts of Abuja.
Oyeleke said that farmers did not take the time to clear, fumigate and ensure that pests-causing diseases were totally eradicated.
“There are two challenges facing the production of tomatoes in the country. One is the tuta-absoluta disease popularly called tomatoes Ebola disease.
“The disease in tomato plantations has affected only Kaduna and parts of Abuja; it is an insect that flies through the night to destroy tomatoes.
“From our research, farmers do not take their time in preparing the farmlands, the land should be well-prepared for six months before planting,’’ Oyeleke said.
The chairman, however, decried the non-availability of chemicals needed to fumigate farmlands that will eradicate the pests-causing the diseases and weed-control chemicals.
Oyeleke said that shortage of tomato supply from farmers to feed the South-West was being supplied to indigenous tomato-paste factories.
He urged farmers in South-West and Eastern states to begin commercial production of tomatoes to meet the nation’s demand.
According to him, the other is the shortage of supply of tomatoes from the farmers. Presently, we have a tomato-processing factory in Kano, owned by the Dangote Group.
“Most of the commodity that is supposed to be coming down to the South-West is no longer coming because the plant consumes a lot of tomatoes for tomato-paste production.
“So, for this reason, we are trying to encourage farmers in the South, West and East to start planting tomatoes to meet up demand,’’ Oyeleke said. (NAN)