Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, revealed that a surge in tomato prices is due to an infestation called Tomato Ebola or Tomato leaf miner, which has significantly decreased supply.
“A significant number of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs.
“Our ministry is taking immediate action to combat this issue. We are deploying agricultural experts to affected areas to contain and eliminate the infestation.
“Additionally, we are supporting our farmers with the necessary resources and guidance to recover their crops as quickly as possible, just as we instituted the Ginger Blight Control Taskforce.
“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,” the Minister shared on his official page on X(Twitter).
Earlier on Sunday, it was reported that tomato prices in Nigerian markets spiked in May, with traders in Lagos, Abuja, and other locations selling baskets for N140,000 to N150,000. Traders attributed the price hike to regular seasonal fluctuations in tomato production, observing that the current harvest period is ending with the onset of the wet season. In April 2024, similar baskets were sold for N50,000 to N100,000, marking an over 100% increase in less than a month.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ April Food Price Watch report, tomato prices have risen significantly over the past year, with a 131.58% increase from April 2023 to April 2024.
The report also noted a 17.06% rise in tomato prices between March and April 2024, indicating a continuing upward trend. Additionally, the Jollof Rice Index by SBM Intelligence showed that the cost of cooking Jollof rice in major Nigerian cities increased, with the average cost rising from N13,106 in October 2023 to N17,000 in March 2024, impacting household budgets nationwide.
