Pest destroys 10ha of tomatoes in Chegutu

Walter Nyamukondiwa Mashonaland West Bureau
The Tuta Absoluta pest, commonly known as the tomato leaf miner moth, has destroyed more than 10 hectares of a tomatoes in Mashonaland West Province. The most affected farmers are in Chegutu, who were contracted by Best Fruit Processors to produce tomatoes for processing at its Norton factory.

With potential to cause absolute damage to fields within a week, the Tuta Absoluta destroyed about 100 hectares nationwide last year. In Mashonaland West this year, a total of 28 hectares were affected, but mitigatory measures ensured that only 10 hectares were completely destroyed. Best Fruit Processors general manager Mr Smart Zongololo said the situation was now under control.

“After more than 100ha were destroyed last year, we managed to take precautionary measures this year. This year we have managed to reduce the area affected to about 28 hectares. Our agronomists, working with the farmers and other stakeholders, managed to save about 18ha and 10ha were destroyed,” he said.

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Webster Shamu, who toured the factory recently, said farmers should fully utilise land to provide sufficient produce. This comes as the country is importing tomato paste from South Africa, which in turn gets it from China.

Tomato paste is used to make tomato puree and tomato sauce. Cde Shamu said there was potential for economic spin-offs such as import substitution and employment creation from the factory if farmers made full use of their land to produce. He said the Forestry Commission should spearhead the development of crop and fruit nurseries in the province.

“We want the Forestry Commission to set up nurseries across the province (Mashonaland West) that are able to give us tomatoes, mango, granadilla and guava trees which feed into our factory,” said Cde Shamu. He said the nurseries should also be set up across the country to support factories in Esigodini and Beitbridge.

Best Fruit Processors is operating below capacity owing to a shortage of raw materials. It has potential to operate 24-hour shifts with increased inputs, but is restricted to a normal day operations. Mr Zongololo said farmers in the province expressed readiness to support the company this year.

“In terms of guava supplies, we managed to get three times more than last year. Farmers have really heeded the call to engage into processing value tomatoes. We expect to get three to four times than last year,” he said.