Tomato prices surge in Nigeria over pest infestation

NIGERIA – The price of tomatoes have soared across Nigeria, hitting households hard as Tuta Absoluta, commonly known as “Tomato Ebola” ravages crops.

Sani Danladi, the Kano State chairman of the Tomato Out Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN), attributed the skyrocketing prices to the pest infestation.

“The primary cause of the high prices of tomatoes in the market is Tomato Ebola,” Danladi said in an interview.

He noted that while the pest initially affected large production areas, the impact has become more widespread from April onwards, leading to a significant drop in tomato availability.

This pest has been devastating tomato crops in several states including Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa since February.

This scarcity has caused tomato prices to surge dramatically. In markets across the country, tomatoes have become a precious commodity.

A kilo of tomatoes now sells for over NGN 2000 (USD 1.35) from farmers, and a 25kg crate costs around N45,000 (USD 30.34), according to Danladi.

Market surveys reveal a stark increase in prices. In the AMAC market in Lugbe, Abuja, tomato dealer Bonanza Bonanza reported that a basket of tomatoes that sold for between N30,000 and N45,000 earlier in the year now fetches between N100,000 (USD 67.41) and N120,000 (USD 80.89).

Similarly, at the Mile 12 International food market in Lagos, a basket of premium tomatoes, which cost N50,000 (USD 33.71) to N80,000 in April, now sells for N140,000 (USD 94.38) to N150,000 (USD 101.12).

Farmers are struggling to manage the pest. Muhammadu Sani, a tomato dealer in Ido Ekiti, pointed out that the rainy season typically leads to a rise in tomato prices, but this year’s spike is exacerbated by the pest infestation.

High temperatures due to global warming are also contributing to the problem. “Tomatoes are not friendly with high temperatures,” Danladi noted.

“It’s normally good when it’s cold weather between January, February, and March, but when it is above that, you cannot grow tomatoes generally in the North.”

In response to the crisis, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari announced immediate measures to combat the infestation.

The federal government is deploying agricultural experts to the affected areas to contain and eliminate the infestation. Additionally, support is being provided to farmers to help them recover their crops swiftly.

 “We understand the impact this has on your daily lives and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes,” Kyari added.

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