FG Unveils Intervention to Combat Tomato, Sugarcane Pests
Last update: February 14, 2026
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To combat tomato and sugarcane pests, boosting food security and farmer protection, the FG has launches emergency programme.
The Federal Government has launched an emergency intervention programme to combat Tuta absoluta and the African Sugarcane Borer, pests threatening tomato and sugarcane production in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the initiative aims to sensitise farmers and extension workers, provide approved pest control inputs, and offer technical guidance on integrated pest management.
Abdullahi described the pest outbreaks as a national agricultural emergency, noting their impact on crop yields, farmer incomes and agro-industrial investments.
“Tomatoes are widely grown and consumed in Nigeria and constitute a major source of income for smallholder farmers. Nigeria remains one of Africa’s leading tomato producers, supporting millions of jobs across production, processing, transportation and marketing,” he said.
He emphasised the need for timely government intervention, increased farmer sensitisation and strengthened collaboration between federal and state governments to contain the infestations, particularly in frontline states such as Kano.
The minister commended the release of two improved tomato varieties, HORTITOM4 and HORTITOM5, by the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in April 2025, noting their adaptability across agro-ecological zones in the country.
Abdullahi also announced the upgrade of the ministry’s pest control division to a full-fledged Federal Department of Plant Health and Pest Control Services, in line with efforts to protect farmers, safeguard strategic crops and promote sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.
CBI News reports that he urged farmers to make judicious use of the free agricultural inputs provided under the intervention and to adhere strictly to expert guidance, warning against indiscriminate pesticide use that could endanger public health and the environment.
The statement quoted Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State as commending the Renewed Hope Agenda on Food Security, noting that the state’s agricultural initiatives complement the Federal Government’s transformation goals.
Also quoted was the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, who described the unveiling as a strategic, science-driven intervention aimed at safeguarding productivity, empowering farmers and strengthening Kano’s position as a hub for irrigated agriculture, horticulture and agro-processing.
