The federal government has attributed the high cost of tomato and scarcity of the commodity across markets in the country to severe infestation of the tomato crop.
A basket of tomato is currently being sold for as high as N150,000 in some parts of the country, while retailers sell 5 to 7 small ones for N5,000.
Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in a statement posted on his X handle, referred to the infestation causing tomato scarcity as “Tomato Ebola” or “Tomato Leaf Miner.”
He said to continue the situation, the Federal Government has sent experts to the affected regions to control and eradicate the infestation.
The minister said the government was also supporting farmers with the necessary resources and guidance to recover their crops as quickly as possible, just as it did by instituting the Ginger Blight Control Taskforce.
Kyari said the government was aware of the impact on the development on the daily lives of Nigerians and was working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes.
