This archive report was first published on 26 October 2019.
By ANN MACHARIA
Tomato farmers in Kajiado County are facing a major challenge with the spread of the tomato leaf miner, a common virus disease affecting tomatoes, beans, and peppers.
According to experts, the disease is most prevalent during warm weather when the multiplication rate of the pest increases.
"The disease also results in stunted growth, and most farmers are aware of the pest and are doing all they can to control and eliminate it as they struggle to increase production," said a farmer.
One farmer lost more than 60 per cent of his tomato crop to the pest, which invades a farm and causes the plants to wilt.
"The tomato plant's leaves curl and turn purple, and some fruits fail to develop while others become deformed," said the farmer.
Experts advise farmers to soak the soil around the plant in the evening to check if the wilting is due to the pest or high temperature or lack of water.
"If it has not revived, then the plant has the top curl virus," said the expert.
The disease is spread by the beet leafhopper, a tiny wedge-shaped insect that varies in colour from pale green to brown.
"The virus is most prevalent when temperatures are warm and populations of leafhoppers are most significant," said the expert.
Experts encourage farmers to buy certified seeds that are resistant to the disease and to remove and destroy infected plants.
"Beet leafhoppers do not easily attack tomatoes in greenhouses and shade nets as they prefer feeding in sunny spots," said the expert.
Providing shade to tomatoes and peppers discourages leafhoppers from landing on the plants, and keeping soils evenly moist can also help control the pest.
There are no pesticides for controlling the virus, but spraying with neem oil will keep the pest at bay.
