Tuta absoluta and the risk to farmers in Sothern Africa
Submitted by Agripest on 18th Jul 2015
Up until recently, the risk of Tuta absoluta to sub Saharan Africa
seemed to be remote. However, the establishment of the pest in Kenya and
Tanzania and the unconfirmed reports from Mozambique emphasises the fact that
Tuta absoluta is present and advancing
pest endangering both investment farmers as well as subsistence farmers. An immediate action is urgently
required.
Tomato is a key staple food for many subsistence farmers,
the devastation of this food source will have a serious nutritional
consequences for entire communities. The risk to Potato production is as grave.
The fact that education is low and
support network is scares makes it so much more difficult to coordinate any meaningful
management strategy
Subsistence farmer in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Botswana as well as South Africa are at grave risk.
In a recent presentation during the South African Entomological
society congress (http://www.essa-zssa2015.co.za/)
Dr Shakir Al-Zaidi from Russell IPM emphasised the importance of early
detection and information dissemination using mobile telephones available to
farmers to help them cope with the problem.
Arbitrary application of synthetic pesticide proved to exacerbate
the problem by causing early resistance development.
In many countries, over use of pesticide
as well as using banned pesticides is well reported. Their impact on the health
of the consumer is not determined.
It was also highlighted the importance of a Sustainable and affordable
biological solutions to empower the farmers against this devastating pest.
Russell IPM has developed such program and it has been
launched in Tanzania in 2015 with a promising success.
For more information
18/7/2015