Zambia Agribusiness Society - ZAS C- Tomato Leafminer (Tuta Absoluta) – Impacts and Coping Strategies for Africa – Evidence Note (March 2019)

Since its first arrival on the African continent in 2008, the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, remains the most important biotic constraint to tomato production in North and sub-Saharan Africa. Subsequently, several research efforts have been undertaken to understand the bioecology of Tuta absoluta and to develop integrated pest management (IPM) technologies to cope with this pest. This evidence note therefore provides information on the key facts about Tuta absoluta, and data on how farmers are coping with the pest in Kenya and Zambia, summarizes the research and development on control methods, and makes recommendations for sustainable management of the pest. This information will be useful for a wide range of stakeholders, including researchers, policy makers, donors and other highlevel decision makers.