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The current increase in tomato prices in Nigeria is being attributed to the widespread invasion of local farms by the 'Tuta Absoluta' pest, according to the Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria.
The chairman of the association in Kaduna State, Mr. Rabiu Zuntu,made this statement during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday.
Tuta absoluta, also known as Tomato Leaf Miner, is a type of moth in the Gelechiidae pest family and is a significant threat to tomato crops in Europe, Africa, western Asia, and South and Central America.
If not effectively controlled, the larvae of this pest can cause up to 100 percent loss in tomato crops.
Zuntu observed that the increase in tomato prices was a result of a shortage in supply, which was caused by the destruction of numerous farms by the Tuta Absoluta insect.
"This has led to a situation where the demand for tomatoes exceeds the supply, resulting in the price increase.
"At the moment, our farms are producing low yields. Many tomato farms have been devastated by these insects due to the hot weather in the northern region.
"The tomato farms in Kaduna and Katsina, which are the top producers of tomatoes, have been destroyed by these insects," stated the chairman. Zuntu appealed to the government to prevent the infestation by offering timely assistance to the farmers.
"The pests typically infest tomato farms in April/May and during the hot season, coinciding with the time when the tomatoes are ripe for harvest. The high temperatures attract these insects.
"We have received assistance from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to address this infestation, but it arrived late, resulting in significant crop losses for many farmers.
"If the interventions and pesticides had been provided earlier, we could have potentially prevented the current situation," he explained.
He also mentioned that if certain tomato-producing states in North and Central Nigeria had received the pesticides earlier, it could have prevented the increase in prices.
"The unusually high temperatures this season are also contributing to this price hike."
“We try everything we can next year to avoid the occurrence of this infestation.
“A 50 kg basket of tomatoes currently sells up North from N80,000, while a crate of 25 kg sells from N40,000 to N50,000 depending on the size,” he said.
NAN reports that two weeks ago, a 25kg basket of tomatoes sold at N14,000 per crate and a 50kg sold at N28,000 to N30,000 per basket.
NAN
