The Tomato Out Growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN) highlights the rising costs in Nigeria's tomato market, linking it to seasonal patterns and production slowdowns. According to Sani Danladi, TOGAN's Kano State Chairperson, the tomato supply has decreased with the advent of the off-season period, impacting prices until the season commences in September.
Danladi explained to Premium Times that recent price increases have compelled Nigerian households to allocate more for tomatoes and pepper. The current situation is exacerbated by holidays and slow production, despite ongoing efforts to resume farming activities. "Because the production is slow now. So, we are just preparing now. So, we have to manage it from now until September," he stated.
Abdulahi Ringim, National President of TOGAN, attributes the price trends to the inherent seasonality of tomato production and a pest outbreak identified as Tuta Absoluta, which wreaked havoc on farms across several states, including Kano, Kaduna, and Jos. "Tomatoes are a seasonal product. There was an outbreak of tomato ebola called Tuta Absoluta. It wiped out so many farms," he commented.
Further compounding the issue are logistical challenges. Increased fuel prices and delays at checkpoints raise transportation costs significantly. Ringim elaborated, "The third reason is transportation cost. You either bribe them, or they delay you, and the tomato gets rotten." Administrative hurdles also persist. "And when they jettison the policy, the whole problem is that people smuggle this tomato," Ringim noted, emphasizing policy enforcement gaps.
On the ground, market surveys in areas like the Federal Capital Territory reveal steep price hikes. At the AMAC market in Lugbe, retailers note that baskets of tomatoes, which once cost between ₦45,000 and ₦50,000 (US$30–US$33), have doubled in price. A consumer, Mrs. Adelani Jumoke, expressed affordability concerns. "I used to buy ₦500 tomato (about US$0.33). But on Saturday, I went to the market. The tomato price is from ₦1,500 (US$1) upwards," she remarked.
Market participants suggest that as rain-fed tomato production commences, prices may stabilize. "This seasonality will continue," Ringim added, stressing the need for addressing underlying issues to prevent recurrent challenges.
Source: Premium Times
