The Tomatoes Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) has attributed the sharp increase in tomato prices across the country to falling supply levels and rising transportation costs.
The Kaduna State Chairman of the association, Mr Rabiu Zuntu, said the situation is being driven mainly by the end of the harvest season in major producing regions in northern Nigeria, where production has now significantly reduced.
He explained that only limited harvests are currently available in a few farming areas, leading to a major drop in supply to markets across the country.
“There is a 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.
Zuntu noted that the shortage has led to a sharp increase in prices, with a 50kg basket of tomatoes now selling between N115,000 and N125,000, compared to N35,000 to N40,000 last month.
He further explained that prices at the farm gate have also increased significantly, with the same quantity now selling for between N50,000 and N70,000 in northern producing areas, compared to N7,500 to N10,000 in January.
He attributed the widening price gap between northern and southern markets, including Lagos, to rising 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 pricing remains largely dependent on demand and supply dynamics, adding that the current shortage is expected to persist until the next production cycle.
He projected that fresh harvests expected from July could improve supply levels, with prices likely to begin stabilising from August.
Meanwhile, consumers and food vendors across Lagos have expressed concern over the rising cost and limited availability of tomatoes in markets.
A food vendor in Shasha, Lagos, Mrs Ranti Adisa, said traders are struggling to access the produce as most wholesalers have run out of stock.
“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.
Another resident, Mrs Oluchi Ogunsanmi, described the situation as difficult for households.
“I bought a small bucket of tomatoes for N7,000, and it was barely sufficient. We may have to consider alternatives,” she said.
She added that the price increase is directly linked to the ongoing scarcity of the produce across markets.
