Tomato Prices Expected to Drop in August, Says TOPAN

Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, the chairman of the Tomato Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria (TOPAN), stated that tomato prices in Nigeria may drop from August as the wet-season harvest commences.

Prices for tomatoes have sharply increased since early May, following the end of the dry season harvest, which reduced supply by 50%. A 50kg basket of tomatoes was sold for between N18,000 and N20,000 in January but reached N100,000 to N130,000 depending on the variety.

Currently, a 25kg crate sells for between N50,000 and N70,000 in wholesale markets. Zuntu urged patience from Nigerians, noting that supply will improve once farmers begin harvesting wet-season tomatoes.

He mentioned that the price surge is expected to last until the end of July. Zuntu also emphasized the need for farmers to adopt flood-resistant tomato varieties to enhance production during the rainy season and called on the government and private investors to establish cold chain storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilize prices throughout the year.