State Of the Nation: What’s With The Sudden Increase In the Price Of Tomatoes In the Market?
In recent times there has been a steady increase in the price of food stuff especially pepper and tomatoes but the last few days has been nothing short of alarming.
Yesterday I went to market and couldn’t believe it when I priced tomatoes and one piece sold for N100. In fact some traders sold 4 medium pieces in a pan for N500. The price of big and small Pepper (tatasè and atarodo) wasn’t as bad however. For the big pepper about 3 medium sizes for N100 while the smaller pepper was even cheaper.
When I asked around for what could possibly be the reason for the sudden surge, I was told that there is a diversion in supply of tomatoes to Lagos as most of the suppliers now prefer to supply Dangote’s Tomato factory before anywhere else. I don’t know though if this Tomato price hike is felt in other western states or around the country.
It will recalled that news spread a couple of months ago that the Dangote Group, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has opened a tomato-processing factory near Nigeria’s northern city of Kano aimed at vying for the local market with imports from China.
“We have fully started operations today and the target is 1,200 metric tons per day,” the managing director of Dangote Farms Limited, which runs the plant, Abdulkareem Kaita, said in an interview.
While I couldn’t verify if this is the only reason for the surge in the price of tomatoes, there’s no doubt that the increase is felt by many Lagosians as I have heard it been discussed in many circles by women who no doubt feel the hole the recent hike is drilling in their pockets, and still have to feed their families regardless.
Nigerians are strong sha. While we are still trying to comprehend and deal with the new N145 naira per litre, now we have to deal with not being able to afford ‘Tomatoes’? Hian!
I don’t even know what to say about this because it sounds ridiculous to say ‘ the government should look into your it’ when there seems to be so many other pressing get issues we are dealing with as a country. But then again, food is also important for survival na, and almost everyone consumes tomatoes right? Wo, guys, let me know what you think about this tomato price hike. Me I’m not finding it funny at all.
Moji God bless you for this. I was still discussing this with my friend yesterday evening. We wanted to make jollof rice o, na him we send person go market with a budget. The guy came back without buying the pepper because ‘money was not enough’. I had to go by my selife before I could believe every how expensive tomatoes especially has become. Only God knows how we survive the level of hardship in this country
My wife was telling me this yesterday but I thought she was exaggerating because she wanted more money.
I also heard, as you said, that Dangote’s tomato paste factory is the cause for this scarcity.
What I believe should be done is for the ministry of Agriculture to ensure that the open market gets a certain percentage of their produce before they are allowed to sell to any private individual, because these farmers are given grants for seeds and fertilizers to grow this crop. Their crops should be beneficial to the country before any private company.
There should be a balance in the market, because the price hike is too ridiculous.
Well said Chi .