19 Dec 2016

The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has suspended importation of crops that are susceptible to attack by tomato leaf miner with immediate effect.

A press release from the ministry says the suspension was a result of detection of tomato leaf miner, a quarantine pest, also known as Tuta absoluta.

The release says given the economic importance of Tuta absoluta, the ministry has developed a strategy to prevent further introduction of the pest by suspending some crops from entering the country which include peppers (capsicum) seedlings and fruits, bell pepper (capsicum annuum) seedlings and fruits, tomato (solnum lycopersicum) seedlings and fruits, eggplant/aubergine (solanum melongena) seedlings and fruits, melon pear (solanum mucatum) seedlings and fruits as well as potato (solanum tuberosum) potato tubers for planting. ENDS