Editorial photo #13750062 Economy, Business and Finance

Tomato Cultivation - Solanum Lycopersicum - Agricultural Pest

Farmers harvest both green and ripe tomatoes from their plants in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 24, 2026. Some tomatoes show damage from cotton leafworm insects, which bore holes into the fruit. Tomato farming in India is a profitable short-duration cash crop, yielding 8 to 12 tonnes per acre over a cycle of 110 to 140 days. Harvesting begins 50 to 60 days after transplanting. The crop thrives in temperatures of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius and requires well-draining loamy or sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. However, significant food loss occurs, with 11.61% to 15% of the yield wasted at the farm level due to insufficient cold storage, processing facilities, and sudden price drops. Effective pest management involves early identification and intervention against threats like fruit borers, whiteflies, aphids, and leafminers. The tobacco cutworm, also known as the cotton leafworm (Spodoptera litura), is a significant pest in Asia, Oceania, and the Indian subcontinent, particularly affecting tomato crops during the fruiting stage. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)