South American Tomato Moth Is Stoking Food Security Fears in Nigeria

Nigeria struggles with declining oil prices and currency devaluation, but agriculture, representing 30 percent of the Nigerian economy, is also taking a hit: “Africa’s largest economy is facing a food crisis as major tomato fields have been destroyed by a moth, leading to a nationwide shortage and escalating prices,” explains reporter Yomi Kazeem for Quartz. “The moth, Tuta absoluta, has destroyed 80% of farms in Kaduna, Nigeria’s largest tomato-producing state, leading the government there to declare a state of emergency.” The tomato leaf miner, said to have originated in South America, reproduces quickly and can attack other crops. Nigeria is Africa’s second largest producer of tomatoes but still imports 75 percent of its supply because of inadequate storage facilities. – YaleGlobal