Recently, there has been a growing and outrageous hike in the price of tomatoes and peppers in the market. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has attributed the scarcity to an infestation.
According to Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the Tomato Ebola outbreak caused a reduction in tomato supply, which is why tomatoes are becoming more expensive.
In response to a user who requested action because “the cost of tomatoes is out of control; it’s like they are charging us per seed,” Kyari said in a post on X.com on Monday.
“A significant number of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner,” the minister stated in his tweet. This has led to a significant decrease in tomato availability and increased prices.
Kyari went on to say that the ministry has laid out strategies to deal with the problem, including sending agricultural specialists to impacted areas to manage and get rid of the infestation and giving farmers support and advice to help them quickly recover their crops.
“We understand the impact this has on your daily lives and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. He added, “Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time.”
As of March 2024, the costs of staple foods such rice, beans, maize, plantains, and tomatoes had increased by 25.34 percent to 40.01 percent, according to a PUNCH story from earlier in May.
