By Valentine Oforo
IN EFFORTS to improve performance of the tomato sub-sector, the World Vegetable Center (Worldveg) has developed and screened eggplant and tomato rootstock lines for resistance reaction for Tanzanian ralstonia solanacearum strains in greenhouse.
It has been unveiled that, in Tanzania, between 40 to 100 percent of tomato yield loss is due to bacterial wilt disease, primarily caused by ralstonia solanacearum species complex, and an important disease of solanaceous crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, nightshade and watermelon.
The helpful development, among others, focuses on empowering the tomato growers to overcome negative effects of the sector’s prone diseases that have been often thwarting the farmers to yield bumper crops.
Ralstonia solanacearum (bacterial wilt) is a bacterium that causes wilting and death of solanaceous plants like potato and tomato.
According to Dr. Judith Hubert, a Plant Pathologist at the Arusha-based viggie center, to start with, the helpful rootstock lines have been introduced in Zanzibar through the Accelerated Innovations Delivery Initiative (AIDI) Zanzibar CIMMYT project.
“The robust project, AIDI which commenced in March 2023 has so far managed to introduce and upscaling grafting technology transfer and distribution of resistant rootstocks to at least 80 farmers in Unguja and Pemba,” she explained.
And Dr Hubert added, implementation of the crucial project in the archipelago of Zanzibar was part to ensure an alternative to harmful pesticides, whereby planting resistant rootstocks are effective and environmentally-friendly management strategies.
“Through execution of the initiative, majority of farmers in Zanzibar are currently managing to to grow tomatoes successfully, as well as many vegetables with better management and improved yields,” she informed.
Due to the so far attained successes, Dr Hubert unveiled that plans are afoot to extend the project into several regions of Tanzania mainland in order to support the tomato farmers, come next year.
“Through professional collaboration between Worldveg, IFDC, CIMMYT and local partners, implementation of the project has managed to fetch intended end-results of attaining sustainable solutions and community empowerment, being essential elements in combating malnutrition and enhancing overall well-being,” she expressed.
Dispensing under the key theme of ‘Sowing Seeds, Meeting Seeds’ Worldveg which recently celebrated 50 years anniversary of it excelling performance launched its mission in 1992 in Arusha, Northern Tanzania and today the center has professional research and development staff working across Africa on important vegetable crops such as tomato, pepper, onion and cabbage, as well as a range of African traditional vegetables, and partners with more than 40 national institutions and many international organizations.
The Center operates three regional bases in Africa: in Tanzania for Eastern and Southern Africa, in Mali for West and Central Africa – Dry Regions (established 2014), and in Benin for West and Central Africa – Coastal and Humid Regions (2017). There is a liaison office in Cameroon to reach into sub-Saharan Africa with improved vegetable varieties and production technologies.
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