By Salisu Hamisu Ali
Researchers from Bayero University Kano (BUK) have stepped in to address a devastating outbreak of Eldana saccharina—commonly known as the African sugarcane borer—that has crippled sugarcane production across several communities in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.
The pest infestation, described by farmers as the worst in recent memory, has destroyed entire farmlands, caused losses running into millions of naira and triggered rural-urban migration among youths whose livelihoods depend on sugarcane farming.
Investigations revealed that the larvae of the pest bore into sugarcane stalks and other cereal crops, drastically reducing yields in communities such as Dukawa, Kunshama, Danga, Tofa, Kwari, Gamadan, Yadagungume, Tudu and Gidan Makera.
Farmers said the destruction has affected their ability to pay workers, procure fertiliser and sustain irrigation, warning that the continued loss of income is weakening the social and economic fabric of the affected communities.
BUK confirms pest, recommends solutions
A crop protection expert at BUK, Dr Baba Sani Wudil, confirmed that samples collected from affected farms identified the pest as Eldana saccharina, a highly destructive stem borer known to attack sugarcane and cereals including sorghum, millet, wheat, rice and maize.
“This insect is very devastating, especially in areas where it has formed colonies. Eldana saccharina has existed in Nigeria for years in sugarcane-producing areas, but the level of infestation we are seeing here is alarming,” he said.
Dr Wudil advised farmers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) measures, including farm sanitation and crop rotation, to reduce the pest population.
“If farmers plant sugarcane this season, they should consider planting vegetables the next. Crop rotation disrupts the life cycle of the pest and reduces its impact,” he explained.
He also recommended early chemical intervention combined with bio-pesticides such as neem oil or neem seed extracts.
“Over-reliance on chemicals has made the larvae resistant. That is why farmers must alternate chemical control with cultural practices like crop rotation,” he added.
Farmers count heavy losses
Despite the intervention, farmers say the damage has already been severe.
Shehu Danga, a sugarcane farmer in Kura, said he lost over ₦6 million this season.
“This is the first time we are witnessing something like this. In some farms, we couldn’t harvest even a single sugarcane stalk; we had to burn everything,” he said.
According to him, while he earned about ₦7 million last year, this year’s return was barely ₦1 million, which was insufficient to recover fertiliser, irrigation and labour costs.
Another farmer, Hassan Ubale Shawai, said the infestation had pushed him to the brink.
“Farming is our only business, inherited from our forefathers. I lost over ₦5 million this year. Last year I sold sugarcane worth more than ₦6.8 million, but this year I didn’t even make one-third of that. Feeding my family has become very difficult,” he said.
Sulaiman Adamu Tofa noted that the crisis was forcing young people to abandon farming.
“The farms are destroyed, and the business is crippled. Many youths are already travelling to cities in search of other means of survival,” he said.
Community calls for government support
The Village Head of Danhassan, Alhaji Adda’u Sani, said sugarcane farming was the primary source of livelihood for most communities in the area.
“The pest has cut off our only means of survival,” he said, calling on government authorities to intervene.
“We are appealing to our district head, state and federal lawmakers, the Ministry of Agriculture and the local government chairman to support these farmers. While we appreciate research efforts, we urgently need relief packages and a permanent solution,” he said.
Research, funding gaps and national concern
Dr Wudil said BUK had notified the Federal Ministry of Agriculture through the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) and the Sugarcane Council of Nigeria, urging urgent intervention.
“One immediate step is providing relief to cushion farmers’ losses. Beyond that, the government must invest in research to develop resistant sugarcane varieties,” he said.
He revealed that a PhD student at BUK had commenced in-depth research on the pest but was constrained by inadequate funding.
Experts warned that if the infestation is not contained, it could spread to other sugarcane-producing states, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s sugar industry and national food security.