Subukia, Nakuru County – The agricultural community in Subukia, Nakuru County, has experienced a tumultuous journey, particularly in tomato farming, a sector once thriving in the 1980s. Fredrick Gitau, a local farmer, reminisces about his childhood when his family’s education was funded through tomato farming. Gitau, inheriting his father’s passion for agriculture, initially focused on tomato cultivation but faced significant setbacks due to the Tuta Absoluta pest and drought conditions.
According to Kenya News Agency, Gitau’s initial attempts at tomato farming were thwarted by the destructive Tuta Absoluta, a leaf miner that devastated his crops. His wife, Gladys Wangui, recalls the severe impact of the pest, emphasizing the impossibility of harvesting any tomatoes once attacked. In 2019, the couple suffered a complete crop failure and substantial financial losses.
Switching to cabbage farming, particularly the Gloria variety, Gitau observed lower expenses compared to tomatoes, which require more seeds, pesticides, and labor. Despite challenges in tomato farming, Gitau acknowledges its profitability and expresses a desire to resume cultivation in a greenhouse, a venture hindered by limited resources.
The Gitaus have diversified their farming practices on their one-and-a-half-acre farm in the Milimani area. They engage in mixed farming, growing sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, French beans, maize, beans, and pyrethrum. They practice crop rotation and are currently focusing on multiplying sweet potato seed for distribution to other farmers.
In response to the Tuta Absoluta challenge, the County Government of Nakuru, in partnership with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) and the Centre for Behaviour Change and Communication Centre (CBCC), launched the Ukulima True campaign. Running from May to December 2023 in Subukia Sub-County, the initiative aimed to reduce pesticide risks and promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches.
The campaign successfully deployed pheromone traps to disrupt the breeding cycle of the Tuta Absoluta. Educational efforts targeted farmers, agro-dealers, extension officers, policymakers, and the community, emphasizing safe pesticide use and environmental protection. The project, exceeding its target of reaching 1000 farmers,
also involved training young male spray service providers in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for safe pesticide application.
Dr. Catherine Lengewa, Technical Director of CBCC, highlighted the campaign’s focus on social and behavioral change strategies to address unsafe pesticide use. The initiative emphasized the importance of consumer safety and proper disposal of pesticide containers. Peter Lengewa, Managing Director of CBCC, stressed the need for knowledge, attitude, and practice changes among farmers regarding pesticide safety.
The efforts have paid off, as more than 1000 farmers in Subukia are now equipped with IPM strategies, marking a significant shift in sustainable tomato farming. Regular monitoring and scouting of fields are encouraged for early pest detection and control. With these measures in place, the Tuta Absoluta pest, once a formidable threat, has been significantly managed.
Fredrick Gitau, reflecting on the journey and the advancements in pest management, expresses optimism about resuming tomato cultivation. He recognizes the crop’s rapid growth and market demand, offering a hopeful outlook for the future of tomato farming in Subukia.