Saving Sri Lanka’s tomato crop from destructive pest

Tomatoes are a staple vegetable in Sri Lanka, sustaining thousands of farmers and supporting local businesses. However, the tomato leaf miner and fruit borer, known as Tuta absoluta, poses a significant threat to both production and farmers' incomes. This pest attacks tomato plants and makes infestations hard to detect and manage once established.

Estimates suggest that up to 30% of Sri Lanka's annual tomato crop could be lost due to this pest, though a definitive national loss figure has not been determined. Urgent attention is needed to address this issue and prevent further losses.

Scientists have identified Tuta absoluta in Sri Lanka since 2017, primarily in tomato polytunnels and open fields. Studies have shown that all examined tomato varieties are susceptible to the pest, with higher infestation rates in protected cultivation compared to open fields. Pheromone traps have proven useful for monitoring adult moth populations and mass trapping under certain conditions.

However, these traps should be part of a comprehensive integrated pest management strategy that includes regular inspections, sanitation, removal of infested plant material, biological control, and other scientifically proven methods.

There is a concern that insufficient farmer demand may have hindered the availability of pheromone products in Sri Lanka. Suppliers should clarify their involvement in importing and marketing these products, including the quantities, prices, levels of adoption, and reasons for any discontinuation of imports. The success of such technologies relies on farmers' understanding of their purpose, proper usage, and perceived benefits.

Without adequate education and demonstrations, even effective technologies may fail to gain market traction.

To combat Tuta absoluta, a national awareness and monitoring program should be initiated. This program, led by the Director General of Agriculture, should begin in Welimada and surrounding tomato-growing areas of Badulla District, where the pest was first detected. It should then expand to suitable tomato-growing areas in Nuwara Eliya, Matale, and all nine provinces based on actual cultivation patterns and pest risks.

Agricultural instructors should be equipped to educate farmers about the pest's life cycle, recognition of its damage, and appropriate monitoring methods. Training should be conducted in both Sinhala and Tamil, with clear illustrations and practical demonstrations in farmers' fields. Farmers need to understand that Tuta absoluta is an insect pest, not a plant disease, to ensure appropriate responses.

Training should also emphasize integrated pest management, discouraging reliance on single commercial products. Agricultural retailers, nursery operators, vegetable collectors, supermarkets, transporters, and producer organizations should also participate in identifying problems and disseminating information.