The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has attributed the soaring cost of tomato products across Nigeria to an infestation affecting tomato farms, commonly known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. The minister made this disclosure on Monday via his official social media account.
Reacting to the substantial increase in tomato prices nationwide, the minister highlighted the impact of the infestation on agricultural production. The average price of one kilogram of tomatoes surged by 131.58 per cent annually to N1,123.41 in April 2024 from N485.10 in April 2023.
The minister acknowledged the severity of the infestation, stating, “Many of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs.”
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has initiated immediate measures to combat the infestation. Agricultural experts are being deployed to affected areas to contain and eliminate the spread, while farmers receive support and guidance to recover their crops swiftly. The minister likened this approach to the establishment of the Ginger Blight Control Taskforce, indicating the government’s commitment to addressing agricultural challenges.
The minister assured Nigerians of ongoing efforts to alleviate the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. However, the surge in food inflation remains a concern, with data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating record-high food and headline inflation rates of 33.69 per cent and 40.53 per cent, respectively, in April 2024.
