As the price of fresh tomato continues to soar across the country, irrigation farmers in Katsina State have attributed the development to the declining irrigation activities at the eve of raining season in the North.
Irrigation farming used to commence in late October or early November and continue all through the months till the end of April when majority of the farmers will switch over to their conventional farming in the raining season.
The Secretary of Dantankari Irrigation Farmers Association, Alhaji Haruna Yakubu, at Dandume village, said: “The risk involved in farming tomato in this season is very high as the crop is easily destroyed by rainfalls which generate heat from soil to suffocate the crop. Few of us that are taking the risk are the ones reaping huge profit from it as a basket costs up to N10, 000 now.
“The true picture of the situation is that the chances of losing everything you invested in now is higher than that of making any profit you may think of gaining.”
Another tomato farmer, Ibrahim Mika Dandume, said besides the danger associated with tomato farming in raining season, a pest attack locally called ‘ebola’ has drastically reduced the volume of tomato this year, making its price to go high.
“Many large scale tomato farmers have lost millions of naira due to the worm attack that we are yet to get its remedy. We tried many types of pesticides and local concoctions against it but all in vain.”
Mika said that the worm first attacks the leaves of the crop before it descends on the tomato fruit and damage it.
He called on agricultural research institutions and agencies to conduct a thorough study of the strange pest in order to get a reliable pesticide that can eliminate it.
The Secretary of Dantankari Irrigation Farmers Association, Alhaji Haruna Yakubu, at Dandume village, said: “The risk involved in farming tomato in this season is very high as the crop is easily destroyed by rainfalls which generate heat from soil to suffocate the crop. Few of us that are taking the risk are the ones reaping huge profit from it as a basket costs up to N10, 000 now.
“The true picture of the situation is that the chances of losing everything you invested in now is higher than that of making any profit you may think of gaining.”
Another tomato farmer, Ibrahim Mika Dandume, said besides the danger associated with tomato farming in raining season, a pest attack locally called ‘ebola’ has drastically reduced the volume of tomato this year, making its price to go high.
“Many large scale tomato farmers have lost millions of naira due to the worm attack that we are yet to get its remedy. We tried many types of pesticides and local concoctions against it but all in vain.”
Mika said that the worm first attacks the leaves of the crop before it descends on the tomato fruit and damage it.
He called on agricultural research institutions and agencies to conduct a thorough study of the strange pest in order to get a reliable pesticide that can eliminate it.
DailyTrust
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