Effect Of Varieties And Pesticides On The Control Of Tomatoes Diseases In Wukari Taraba State

Description

ABSTRACT

Globally, farmers have for a long time struggled with tomato production. The primary problem has been tomatoes infection, which devastated the tomato production globally. In the battle against the tomatoes and other problems in the native tomato production have been neglected. The overall goal with these projects was to identify common tomato diseases and to evaluate their effect on yield and quality of the tomato fruits at different nitrogen levels. The results of the studies are based on the same field experiments. To increase the understanding about local farming conditions, interviews were made at two locations. During the interviews the farmers were asked questions about the farms, their production and pesticide use. Today, the farmers overuse chemical products to control different pests. The Wukari farmers in general have a strong belief that pesticides are the solution of all their agricultural problems.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum (syn. Solanum lycopersicum and Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is an herbaceous annual in the family Solanaceae grown for its edible fruit. The plant can be erect with short stems or vine-like with long, spreading stems. The stems are covered in coarse hairs and the leaves are arranged spirally. The tomato plant produces yellow flowers, which can develop into a cyme of 3–12, and usually a round fruit (berry) which is fleshy, smoothed skinned and can be red, pink, purple, brown, orange or yellow in color. The tomato plant can grow 0.7–2 m (2.3–6.6 ft) in height and as an annual, is harvested after only one growing season.

Tomato fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is used in many dishes. The fruit may also be processed into juice, soup, ketchup, puree, paste or powder.

Most states in Nigeria desire to have large scale of tomatoes production. Soon the tomato crop was heavily affected by various diseases, which led to great reduction of both yield and quality of the tomato fruits.

In Wukari in Taraba State, the primary problem for the tomato production is Begomovirus infection. These viruses are transmitted by white flies (Bemisia tabaci Genn.). The viruses cause curling of the leaves, stunted plants and reduced yield and quality (Hull, 2011). The first observation of the disease in Nicaragua was made in the 1970’s (Polston and Anderson, 2017). In less than twenty years the problem had become nation-wide, mostly due to the changes in the cropping system, and the tomato production virtually vanished (Rojas et al., 2010).

Some research has been done to find out which viruses that is present in Wukari in Taraba State, but   the focus on virus diseases have left a gap of knowledge about other important factors for tomato production (Rojas, 2003, personal communication). Other diseases also cause yield losses. The small yield is often of bad quality and this leads to even lower income for the farmers.

The farmers protect their crop by the most acknowledged way, to use pesticides. Tomato production is very pesticide intensive and the farmers usually spray against whitefly every day. The industry does not give accurate information about the pesticides and the farmers often have low education and no knowledge about the cause of disease and effect of the pesticides. This is an environmental and social problem in most developing countries, not only Taraba, Nigeria (Rojas, A., 2003, personal communication). This study was carried out to study the effect  of  varieties and  pesticides  on  the  control  of  tomatoes  diseases in Wukari  Taraba  State.

1.2                                                  PROBLEM STATEMENT

Farmers in Wukari, Taraba state have for a long time struggled with tomato production. Efforts were made to build up a large tomatoes farm production. Their effort was rendered useless as their tomato crop was heavily affected by various diseases, which led to great reduction of both yield and quality of the tomato fruits. This study was carried out to study different types of tomatoes diseases and the effect of pesticide on them which can at the end bring solution to the long lasted tomatoes disease problem in Wukari, Taraba state.

1.3                  AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this work is to identify different tomatoes diseases that attacks tomatoes in Wukari, Taraba state, and pesticide that can be used on them in . The objectives of the study are:

1. To identify common tomato diseases and to evaluate their effect on yield and quality of the tomato fruits at different nitrogen levels.
2. To increase the understanding about local farming conditions

• To increase tomatoes production rate in Wukari, Taraba state.

1.4                                                   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study provides an overview of the tomatoes and also review different types of tomatoes diseases that hinder tomatoes production in Wukari, Taraba State. The study also made a recommendation on the best tomatoes pesticide that can be used for tomatoes disease control.

1.5                                                      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work will throw more light on the best techniques and pestoicide for controlling tomatoes disease. This study will also be designed to be of immense benefit to all the users of pesticide and to all farmers.

1.6                                                  LIMITATION OF STUDY

As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-

1. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
2. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

• Time Constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.7                                    PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.