Price Of Tomatoes Crashes

The price of tomatoes has significantly dropped in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, a trend farmers attribute to the current glut caused by the harvest season.

A tomato glut occurs when there is an overproduction of tomatoes, leading to a drop in prices, which typically happens between January and March each year.

Currently, depending on the variety, the price of tomatoes ranges from N10,000 to N12,000 for a 50kg basket. In the North, a 25kg plastic crate is priced between N6,000 and N7,000, while in Lagos, a large basket costs between N13,000 and N15,000, compared to N140,000 to N150,000 in May 2024.

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Rabiu Zuntu, chairman of the Tomatoes Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (Kaduna Chapter), explained that the price drop is a result of the harvest season.

He urged consumers to preserve the surplus tomatoes during this period, as the sector faces significant post-harvest losses due to a lack of storage and preservation technologies.

Zuntu highlighted that the glut period, from January to March, often leads to up to 50% of tomatoes being wasted.

He advised consumers to stock up during this time and preserve the tomatoes for later when prices rise.

He suggested simple preservation methods for households, such as blending, boiling, and storing tomatoes in airtight jars, which can last for six months if properly prepared.

Tomatoes can also be buried in the ground to maintain their freshness for an extended period, though these methods are not suitable for large-scale preservation.

Some tomato vendors in Lagos have also acknowledged the price drop.

Queen Oloyede, a trader in Surulere, said that the price of a 50kg basket of tomatoes at Mile 12 market has dropped to between N15,000 and N20,000 in the past week, urging customers to stock up for later.

Judith Amen, another vendor, mentioned that the highest quality tomatoes are still relatively expensive, costing between N35,000 and N37,000 for a 50kg basket, and advised customers to preserve what they can afford.

Consumers, like Catherine Eigbedion from Agege, shared their challenges with preservation, noting that inconsistent electricity supply hampers their efforts.

Ebere Dudu from Dopemu also noted that the price is currently low but unpredictable, so she buys in bulk and preserves tomatoes for the future.

Queen Akpan expressed that if she could afford it, she would stock up on tomatoes to save money for when prices increase.

 

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