Tomato farming in Kenya is rife ranging from small scale
farming to commercial farming.
However, small scale farmers end up giving up due to a
number of challenges including diseases that attack tomatoes at the point of
harvest.
Such diseases include Fusarium wilt, a common vascular wilt
fungal disease, affecting tomatoes at the harvesting stage.
Fusarium wilt produces symptoms such as wilting, chlorosis and
necrosis, premature leaf drop, browning of the vascular system, stunting and
damping-off in tomatoes
The disease spreads through water and humans contact (use of
uncleaned farm tools) from the infected plant to non-infected fields.
Fusarium wilt thrives in conditions such as high soil
temperatures, hot damp weather, and warm wet soils.
Prevention and
control of Fusarium Wilt
Tomato leaves infected by Fusarium wilt
To prevent and control the spread of the fungal, tomato
farmers should avoid the use of fertilizers with high Nitrogen components,
excessive watering, and overhead irrigation.
Farm tools should be sterilized frequently, to avoid spread
of the fungal from the affected fields.
Tomato farmers should control weeds which could pose alternative
hosts risks.
For infected fields, farmers should practice crop rotation;
remove infected plants and destroy them completely, treat soil and use
copper-based fungicides.
Tomato farming yields can be high if a farmer observes
these procedures, doubling the scale in the market and improving food security
in the economy.
Discussion about this post