You notice holes in your maize leaves. Your tomato leaves have brown spots, or your cassava leaves are turning yellow. What is causing the damage?
Before you spray, find out what you are dealing with. Insects that feed on crops and diseases caused by fungi, bacteria or viruses require different control methods. Using the wrong product may waste money without solving the problem.
Here is how to recognise the warning signs.
1. Check for Insect Damage
Some insects chew leaves, bore into stems or feed on plant sap. Their feeding often leaves visible signs on the crop.
Look out for:
Holes in leaves: Caterpillars and grasshoppers chew leaves, sometimes leaving large holes or ragged edges.
Damaged stems: Stem-boring caterpillars can tunnel into stems, weakening plants and sometimes causing the growing point to dry up.
Curled leaves: Aphids and whiteflies feed on plant sap and may cause leaves to curl or become distorted.
Damaged fruits and pods: Some insects bore into tomatoes, maize cobs or developing pods, damaging the produce.
What to do: Inspect the affected plants, including the undersides of leaves, young shoots, stems and fruits. Look for live insects, eggs, droppings or feeding marks. These clues can help you identify the insect responsible.
2. Check for Signs of Plant Disease
Plant diseases can also damage leaves, stems, roots and fruits. They may be caused by fungi, bacteria or viruses, and their symptoms can differ from one crop to another.
Look out for:
Leaf spots: Brown, black or yellow patches that may enlarge or spread across the leaf.
Powdery or fuzzy growth: Some fungal diseases produce visible growth on leaves, stems or fruits.
Wilting and rotting: Plants may wilt, develop rotten roots or stems, or die despite adequate watering.
Unusual patterns on leaves: Some viral diseases cause mottled colours, yellow patterns, curling or distorted growth.
What to do: Examine the affected leaves and other plant parts. Check whether the spots are spreading, whether several plants show similar symptoms and whether there are signs of rotting or unusual growth. If you cannot identify the disease confidently, seek advice from an agricultural extension officer or agronomist.
3. Do Not Confuse One Problem with Another
Some symptoms look alike. For example, yellow leaves may result from insect feeding, plant disease, poor soil nutrition or water stress.
Holes in leaves may suggest insect feeding, but spots and wilting alone do not confirm a disease.
That is why you should not choose a treatment based on one symptom. Examine the crop carefully and identify the likely cause before taking action.
4. Choose the Right Control Method
Once you have identified the problem, choose a control method that addresses it.
For insect damage: If a harmful insect is responsible for the damage and treatment is necessary, use an insecticide registered for the specific crop and target pest. Saro offers a range of insecticide solutions for different pest challenges. These include Capsitox for mirid control in cocoa and vegetables, Hallakat for armyworm control in maize, Termex or Solitex for termite control, and Sting for the control of piercing and sucking insects in legumes, among others. Always confirm that the product is registered for the intended crop and pest, and follow label instructions for proper application.
For fungal diseases: Managing fungal diseases may require removing infected plant material, improving field conditions and applying a registered fungicide where recommended. Saro offers Blue Snow, Clot and Sarozeb for the management of fungal diseases in crops, depending on the crop and disease involved. For cocoa farmers dealing with black pod disease, Mackecknie Gold and Mackecknie Extra are effective Saro solutions to consider. Always confirm the product’s recommended use for the specific crop and disease, and follow label instructions.
For bacterial or viral diseases: Fungicides will not cure these infections. Control may involve removing infected plants, managing insect carriers where relevant, using healthy planting materials and following recommended farm hygiene practices.
Always read the product label and follow the recommended application rate, crop instructions and safety precautions. If you are uncertain about the cause, get professional guidance before spraying.
5. Inspect Your Farm Before Problems Spread
Make crop inspection part of your weekly farm routine. Check your leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruits regularly. Look for changes and investigate them early.
Record what you observe and the steps you take. Early identification can help you avoid unnecessary spraying, reduce wasted expenses and protect your crop.
Before You Spray, Identify the Problem
Holes in leaves, brown spots and wilting are warning signs, but they do not all point to the same cause.
Check for insect feeding. Look for signs of disease. Identify the problem before choosing a treatment.
Need help with a crop problem? Use the FarmPropa app’s Report an Issue feature to upload a photo and details of the affected crop for review by an agronomist.
For guidance on suitable crop protection products, speak with a trusted SARO agro-dealer.
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