Tomato farmers feel devastating effects of Tuta Absoluta
MORE than 60 hectares of tomatoes at Maunganidze Irrigation Scheme in Chimanimani District has been written off after an attack by the dangerous leaf mining moth, commonly known as Tuta absoluta.
Maunganidze Irrigation Scheme chairperson, Mr Elias Ziwenjere, confirmed the development and said 84 plot holders incurred almost 50 percent losses this year.
Tuta absoluta is a very harmful leaf mining moth (also known as tomato leaf miner) with a strong preference for tomatoes. It also attacks eggplants, sweet peppers as well as potatoes.
“The outbreak of Tuta absoluta was reported throughout the country and this was the first time to experience its devastating effects here. Farmers suffered great loses this season.
During the 2015/16 season, farmers from Maunganidze Irrigation Scheme managed to load 17, 30-tonne-trucks with tomatoes for the market at Fresh Produce Company in Harare, but this year, we could not load five trucks,” said Mr Ziwenjere.
He said because of the devastating effects of Tuta absoluta attacks, most farmers were resorting to growing Michigan beans.
The farmers have a contract with Cairns Foods which runs until the end of this year.
“Michigan beans farmers are expect- ing a bumper harvest. We are looking forward to recover our tomato losses from the beans since the crop is doing very well. Most farmers will start harvesting next month,” he said.
Maunganidze Irrigation Scheme was established in 1997, with tomato farming being the back-bone of the scheme. It has 84 plot holders occupying 0.8 hectares each.
In 2 0 1 4 , Wo rl d Food Organisation rehabilitated toilets, canals and water pumps among other things, under the European Unionfunded National Irrigation Rehabilitation Framework project that was aimed at supporting 80 irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe.