The Tomatoes Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) has attributed the current surge in tomato prices to dwindling supply and rising transportation costs.
The Kaduna State Chairman of the association, Mr Rabiu Zuntu, made this known in an interview with the News Agency on Tuesday in Lagos.
Zuntu said the scarcity of tomatoes, largely due to the end of the harvest season in major producing areas in the North, was a key driver of the price hike.
According to him, supply has significantly declined, with only limited harvests available in a few locations.
“There is scarcity of tomatoes at the moment. Production has ended in most parts of the North, and we now rely on minimal harvests from a few areas,” he said.
He added that a 50kg basket of tomatoes, which sold for between N35,000 and N40,000 last month, now costs between N115,000 and N125,000.
Zuntu also noted that prices at the source had risen sharply, with the same quantity selling for between N50,000 and N70,000 in the North, compared to N7,500 to N10,000 in January.
He attributed the wider price disparity in Lagos and other southern states to escalating logistics costs.
“Transporting a trailer load of tomatoes from the North now costs about N2 million due to higher fuel prices, compared to between N1.1 million and N1.3 million two months ago.
“The increase in transportation cost has been transferred to consumers, thereby pushing up market prices,” he said.
Zuntu explained that tomato prices are determined by demand and supply dynamics, noting that the current shortage would likely persist until the next harvest cycle.
He projected that fresh harvests expected from July could stabilise supply, with prices likely to decline from August.
Meanwhile, some consumers and food vendors have expressed concern over the rising cost and scarcity of tomatoes.
A food vendor in the Shasha area of Lagos, Mrs Ranti Adisa, said traders were struggling to access the produce.
“Many of us could not get tomatoes at the market, as most traders had no stock. A crate sold for between N45,000 and N50,000 at Ile-Epo market, compared to N15,000 a few weeks ago,” she said.
Adisa said the situation might force vendors to seek alternatives.
Similarly, a resident of FESTAC, Mrs Oluchi Ogunsanmi, described the situation as worrisome.
“I bought a small bucket of tomatoes for N7,000, and it was barely sufficient. We may have to consider alternatives,” she said.
She attributed the price increase to the scarcity of the produce.
