The Tomato Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) has attributed the recent spike in tomato prices to increased demand during the Sallah celebrations and reduced production output.
The Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of TOPAN, Mr. Rabiu Zuntu made this known in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.
Zuntu, however, assured that prices would stabilise in the coming weeks.
“The current hike in tomato prices is largely due to heightened demand during the festivities and the low productivity levels among farmers,” he said.
“We’ve seen consistent increases in demand, especially during the Sallah and Easter periods, which has significantly pushed up prices. But after the festivities, in a week or two, prices are expected to normalise.”
He added that before the Sallah celebration, tomato prices were relatively stable.
“Before the festivities, a raffia basket of tomatoes sold for between N10,000 and N15,000 in the North. However, during the celebration, prices shot up to N30,000 and above for the same quantity,” he said.
Zuntu also highlighted rising transportation costs as another factor driving up prices.
“We need to ramp up production to meet growing demand, and we must also address the high cost of logistics, which continues to affect market prices,” he noted.
He further explained that the price of pepper continues to rise due to seasonal scarcity.
“Pepper is not in season now, and we cannot predict its price at the moment,” he added.
In January 2025, a raffia basket of tomatoes sold for between N20,000 and N30,000 in the South-West. That same basket now sells for between N60,000 and N70,000.
