A multi stakeholder task force has been formed aimed at containing and controlling the current outbreak of Tuta Absoluta, the pest that savagely attacks Tomato plants.
On Friday, the Zambia National Farmers’ Union held a Fruits and Vegetables stakeholders meeting and discuss possible ways of containing and controlling the current Tuta Absoluta outbreak.
The meeting was attended by the Ministry of Agriculture (ZARI), tomato growers, Agro-chemical and seed companies, ZNFU Fruits and Vegetables Commodity Committee representatives among others.
The meeting resolved to form a Multi-Stakeholder Taskforce that will spearhead the strategy to contain, control and prevent further outbreak of Tuta.
The meeting also agreed to quantify the affected tomato farmers adding affected farmers should report through ZNFU for further escalation to the Ministry of agriculture.
It also resolved that the task force should engage the Ministry of Agriculture as well as private chemical suppliers on possible incentives and interventions that will result in reduction in the cost of controlling Tuta Absoluta.
The meeting also agreed to create an efficient Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy, that includes capacity building programmes on IPM and push for mass trapping of the pest starting with most affected areas.
They said this will call for increased importation of traps by the government.
The meeting also agreed that there is need for awareness creation on the Tuta pest and food safety requirements by produce a brochure on Tuta disease that will include information on what Tuta Absoluta.
The meeting further agreed to enforce in-country quarantine mechanisms.
The Taskforce will have its first meeting next week on Tuesday 21st of June, 2016.
Tuta absoluta is a species of moth in family Gelechiidae known by the common names tomato leafminer and South American tomato moth. It is well known as a serious pest of tomato crops in Europe and South America.
Thanks Tukachimona for clarifying what the disease is. I expected it to be outlined in the article but as usual, our journalists assume that everybody knows what they are writing about.
kaili the journalist just went there for free drinks , no research at all so article ni “copy and paste” thus the poor report Iorna