By Fatima Muraina & Justus Adetomiwa
Tomato farmers in Ondo State are reeling from huge losses as prices crash drastically due to a market glut, forcing them to sell at giveaway rates.
A basket of the Valentino variety, which previously sold between ₦45,000 and ₦50,000, now goes for as low as ₦15,000 to ₦16,000. The Diva and Cobra species are priced at ₦22,000 to ₦23,000, while the Bearer variety sells between ₦23,000 and ₦25,000.
Worried by the recurring glut, tomato farmers and traders have urged the government to establish a processing factory to absorb excess produce and stabilise earnings. They stressed that without processing or storage facilities, peak harvests will continue to result in losses.
According to them, a tomato factory would protect farmers from wastage, guarantee a steady market, stabilise prices, create jobs, boost food security and strengthen the state’s agricultural value chain.
The Ondo State Chairman of the Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria blamed the oversupply on lack of processing facilities.
“We have a glut now because everyone is trying to sell at once. Tomatoes are perishable, and we have no factory to turn them into paste. Government told us to go into farming, but there has been no real support,” he said.
He dismissed fears of scarcity, insisting the market would remain flooded. “Those saying tomatoes will soon be scarce do not understand agricultural timing. More will come next month.”
Supporting this, a farmer, Akin Ogunniyi explained, “This is when the North brings in tomatoes. In the South-West, we harvest between January and June, but now farmers plant all year round. Supply will keep increasing. Farmers need government support in processing and storage to avoid future losses.”
Another farmer, Dauda Bashir, stressed the urgency of investing in processing plants.
“Tomatoes are perishable. Once taken to the market, you cannot bring them back. Farmers are forced to sell at any price,” he lamented, adding that abundant rainfall has worsened the glut by boosting harvests.
Bashir maintained that processing plants would reduce waste, stabilise prices and ensure year-round availability. “If government or individuals invest in tomato plants, it will help farmers and reduce post-harvest losses,” he added.
A local food vendor, who chose anonymity, confirmed that prices have been very low since last month, attributing it to supply from South-Western farmers. She however warned of imminent scarcity.
“It has been cheap, but it is becoming scarce,” she said. “I was told to wait before buying, hoping prices stay low.”
She blamed the rains for affecting the popular ‘Beske’ variety but noted that Zaria and ‘Kerewa’ types are still available. She expects prices to rise by month’s end.
Weekend Hope survey at Shasha Market, Akure, on October 2 revealed mixed trends in foodstuff prices. While tomatoes and peppers dropped sharply, other staples soared.
Pepper, once sold at ₦50,000 per basket, now goes for ₦15,000. Retail prices also fell from ₦11,000 to about ₦3,000.
However, groundnut oil rose from ₦68,000 to ₦75,000 per keg, while Nigerian rice dropped from ₦75,000 to between ₦60,000 and ₦65,000 per bag. Beans reduced from ₦205,000 to ₦195,000, with retail cost falling from ₦1,800 to ₦1,500 per module. Garri also dropped slightly from ₦800 to ₦700.
Palm oil prices surged from ₦45,000 to ₦60,000 per keg, with traders blaming poor farm harvests.
Fish recorded sharp hikes. A pack of Titus, once ₦155,000, now costs ₦185,000. Another, previously ₦24,000, has soared to ₦72,000. Retail prices soared, with Titus price jumping from earlier cost of ₦2,500 per unit to ₦5,000, while Sharwa fish rose from ₦500 to ₦1,500.
Meat offered slight relief, as beef dropped from ₦7,500 to ₦6,800 per kilogram, bringing some respite to consumers battling rising living costs.