Minimizing the effect of Tuta absoluta in Nigeria through Tray and Lamp Technology

Tuta absoluta is a larva of moth known by the common names tomato leaf-miner and South American tomato moth. The pest (Tuta absoluta) was discovered in South America in 1912 where it ravaged many farms before it spread to Europe and then to Asia and now to East and West Africa.

The larva feeds voraciously upon tomato plants, producing large galleries in leaves, burrowing in stalks, and consuming apical buds and green and ripe fruits. It is capable of causing a yield loss of 100%.

It has the ability to destroy a whole tomato farm within 48 hours. It is also very difficult to control as it has a high mutation capacity with the ability to develop a resistance to insecticides.

In 2016, the pest caused huge tomato losses in the tomato producing states of Nigeria, scarcity and high cost of the product was felt across the country.

Tuta absoluta is a very challenging pest to control. It took Sudan about three years to recover from a similar attack in 2010. Effectiveness of chemical control is limited due to insect's nature of damage as well as its rapid capability of developing resistance to insecticide. Mass trapping and Kill application has been found to be effective to control Tuta absoluta.

The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan have invented a technology called the tray and lamp technology to reduce the impact of this pest. The tray is filled with water, sprinkled with a little detergent and a stone in placed inside. The battery powered or rechargeable lamp is placed on the stone. Researchers at NIHORT found out that the moth which produces the larva that attacks the tomato plant is active at night and attracted to light and once the moth come to the light, they fall into the tray and are trapped, hence drown and die in the water.

Tomato farmers can set up this simple technology. Even though the technology was developed for small scale tomato farmers, the technology needs improvement to also accommodate large scale tomato farmers.

Written by Kehinde S.Jimoh