Nigerian tomato prices soar

According to the price monitoring of some foods by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics in May, the average price of 1 kilogram of tomatoes increased by 196.92% from 498.34 naira in the same period of 2023 to 1480 naira in May 2024 compared to the same period last year. Compared to 1123 naira in April 2024, the price has increased by 31.71% month on month. The sustained inflation in Nigeria has weakened purchasing power, leading to a general increase in prices, including food. Inflation not only affects food production costs, but also affects transportation and distribution costs, further pushing up consumer prices.

Firstly, a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics in April 2024 showed that the overall inflation rate in the country has risen to 33.69%, the highest in five years. Economist Professor Sherifdin Terra said in an interview that inflation is not just targeted at specific products, but is a widespread price increase, and inflation in Nigeria has been ongoing for a long time. A few days after the end of Muslim Eid al Fitr, the prices of chili peppers and tomatoes further skyrocketed. The reporter went to some major markets for investigation, and the results showed that even after the end of Ramadan, the prices of these perishable goods not only did not decrease, but also showed an uncontrollable upward trend.

Secondly, the shortage of tomatoes is related to insect invasion, but in the short term, this problem cannot be overcome. In the long run, there are things like tomato sauce in the market that can overcome it. Part of the reason for inflation is related to food imports, so tomatoes will become a part of these foods. Unsafe and difficult transportation are also reasons for the rise in tomato prices. The main tomato producing areas are in the central region, including the plateau, Jos and Taraba, and one of the biggest problems in the region is insecurity. Therefore, farmers cannot cultivate as they used to. Even if they cultivate, transfer is still a problem due to insecurity.

In addition, the main reason for the high prices of tomatoes in the market is the Ebola virus in tomatoes. The Ebola tomato epidemic began in February, but due to the large production area, it has hardly affected all regions. However, from April to now, all tomatoes have been produced. Only by planting a large amount of tomatoes in the riverside area can farmers harvest some tomatoes from their farms. But now, almost all the tomatoes we see come from the Pankhsin Plateau and the state of Ikarakaduna, which is why tomatoes are expensive.

In response to the soaring prices of tomatoes, Nigerians have begun to try using cheaper vegetables to make stews. Nigerians are now replacing tomatoes with cucumbers, carrots, and chili peppers. Tomatoes are the main vegetable used in making Nigerian stews and purees, and can be used to cook various local dishes. This move is to alleviate the impact of high costs caused by the continuous surge in tomato market prices on people's wallets. The price of fresh tomatoes nationwide has risen by more than 120%, forcing consumers to switch to relatively cheaper tomato sauce and other alternatives.

Overall, food prices have risen again, breaking previous predictions that the food inflation curve will begin to flatten by the end of the first half of the year. The rising prices of basic foods such as rice, beans, and tomatoes in Nigeria are increasingly causing concerns among consumers and policy makers. High prices are multifaceted and involve challenges related to economics, environment, logistics, and policies. Solving these problems requires joint efforts, including improving agricultural technology, improving infrastructure, stable economic policies, and peace and security measures. Effectively managing these factors can make food prices in Nigeria more stable and affordable.