Farmers record losses as tomato price crashes

Tomato farmers in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau and other states are currently grappling with severe glut as the harvest season begins.

After the catastrophic Tuta absoluta outbreak ravaged crops and inflicted billions of naira in losses on the tomato industry, farmers now face another daunting challenge.

Our correspondents across the states report that markets are now flooded with fresh tomatoes, leading to a sharp drop in price and heavy financial losses for farmers who had invested heavily to recover from previous setbacks caused by the pest attack.

Over the past few years, infestations of Tuta absoluta, a highly damaging tomato leaf miner, have wreaked havoc on farms in northern tomato-growing regions.

These outbreaks have led to the destruction of vast areas of cultivated land, compelling numerous farmers to cease production. The disruptions have significantly impacted supply chains and driven many farmers into financial distress due to mounting debts.

In 2016, the first outbreak of Tuta absoluta devastated tomato crops in seven northern states: Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Gombe and Nasarawa. Subsequently, it has also been detected in two additional states in the South-West region: Lagos and Oyo.

In Kano State, Malam Abba Ibrahim Kalla of Bunkure Local Government Area, told our correspondent that going back to the farm was very difficult as he had incurred a huge loss in his tomato farm last year due to the pest attack.

He added that it was with the assistance of a loan he got from his associates that he was able to return to the farm this dry season.

Malam Kalla noted that despite the recent commencement of the harvest season, early signs indicate that farmers are likely to face losses due to tomato surplus in the market, which inevitably leads to a sharp decline in the price of tomatoes.

Our correspondent who visited some tomato markets revealed that a full basket of tomatoes is now selling at less than N10, 000 while a crate is selling at less than N3, 000, which many farmers said was far below its production price.

A basket of tomatoes, which once fetched over N25,000, now sells at a fraction of that price. Farmers lament their inability to recoup expenses for fertiliser, seeds, chemicals, labour and transportation.

Another farmer, Idris Muhammed, said tomato farmers appreciated the commitment of research institutions and other agencies in tackling the Tuta problem, enabling many farmers to hone their skills in combating this pest, instilling confidence in them to invest more heavily in tomato cultivation this year.

He explained that farmers had eagerly cultivated tomatoes this year, but they faced an unfortunate glut in most markets across the growing areas.

“With improved pest control measures and renewed confidence, many farmers returned to tomato cultivation this season. Ironically, the rebound in production has now resulted in excess supply, outpacing market demand, resulting in the glut we are witnessing now,” he said.

In Kaduna State, farmers raised serious concerns over the rising cost of fertiliser, recurring tomato diseases, poor storage facilities and unstable electricity supply, warning that the challenges are threatening their livelihood and the sustainability of tomato production in Nigeria.

A tomato farmer in Hunkuyi town, Kudan Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Alhaji Auwal Ibrahim Hunkuyi, said the high cost of fertiliser was gradually crippling tomato farming.

Speaking with Weekend Trust, Alhaji Auwal lamented that “this year, tomato farming faced many challenges and the price of tomatoes collapsed in the market. But what worries us most is the high cost of fertiliser. That is the real problem facing tomato farmers.

“Today, a bag of fertiliser is sold at N50,000, yet you end up selling  tomatoes at N1,700 to N3,000 per kilogram. That alone shows that something is seriously wrong.”

Alhaji Auwal explained that many farmers were forced to continue farming, not because it is profitable but because it is their only means of survival.

“We are farming now because we need food, not because of profit. If you spend N1 million on a farm, it is very difficult to make N200,000 profit,” he said.

He further broke down the rising cost involved in tomato production, including fuel for irrigation machines, agrochemicals, labour and fertiliser.

He explained, “When you calculate the cost of petrol for irrigation engines, chemicals for spraying, payment for labourers and the cost of fertiliser, you will not even make N200,000 profit. In fact, most times, you run at a loss.

“Last year, a bag of maize was sold at N60,000, but now, it has dropped to N18,000. With that same money, you farm tomatoes, and at the end of the season, people come and buy it at N3,000 per kilo. Where is the profit in that?”

He added that the situation made it appear as if farmers were only working for fertiliser dealers.

Meanwhile, the assistant chairman of the Tomato Leda Cooperative Societies and Sellers at Mugadishu Market, Kaduna, Hafiz Umar, said tomato supply had improved due to a reduction in pest infestations, largely because of the cold season.

“There is improvement now because it is the cold season. The tomato pest problem has reduced significantly,” he said.

Hafiz recalled that in previous years, the situation was worse, forcing traders to seek tomatoes outside Nigeria.

“It was not like this in the past. There was a time when tomatoes almost disappeared completely. We even had to travel to Cameroon to buy tomatoes because there were none in Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the worst period is usually between March and May.

“From March to April and May when the weather is very hot, we face serious problems with tomato pests. But now, because we are in the cold season, there is much improvement,” he said.

On the current market prices, Hafiz Umar said tomato prices dropped significantly.

“At the moment, a basket of tomato sells at N10,000. A rubber container sells at N3,500 to N4,000, while a small nylon (leda) sells at N500 to N1,000,” he said.

He compared the prices with what was obtainable last year during the hot season.

“Last year, during the hot season, we sold a basket at N60,000 to N100,000. A rubber container was N15,000 to N30,000, while a nylon was N5,000 to N10,000,” he recalled.

The women leader of Tomatoes Market at Cele Bridge in Jos, Plateau State, Ruth Izang, told our correspondent that tomato price had really crashed, adding that many people are still blaming it on the disease that has refused to leave the farms in the state.

“The price of good tomatoes, the variety travellers prefer, is around  N5,000 for a basket, while the price of other varieties that have shorter shelf life ranges between N4,000 and N3,000.

“Around November and October last year, it was sold at N17,000, N16,000 and N15,000.

“Another reason for the tomato price crash in Plateau State is because tonnes of the commodity are being flooded in the market from Zaria,” she said.

Farms still under pest attack

On her part, Professor Juliana Mafuil, a tomato farmer and stakeholder in the value chain in Plateau State, also acknowledged that the Tuta Absoluta is still ravaging tomato farms.

“There are lots of Tuta Absoluta in many farms; not only in Jos but even outside Jos. This is because Mangu and the rest of the places are also affected. That’s what is happening right now.

“The farmers, marketers and everyone along the tomato value chain are not faring well right now in this situation. What else can they do? They are looking for what they can get to kill the disease over the years, but it has not been successful.

“They are just trying one thing or another and some are not working. In fact, there are some new seeds that they brought for us from abroad. It is from an establishment in Japan. But it is somehow still not working.

“So, I won’t say that Plateau State has come out of the tomato disease and related challenges right now because many farms are still affected, big time,” she said.

The secretary of the Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketing Association of Nigeria, Plateau State chapter, Joshua Ngwen, told the Weekend Trust that the disease had not gone away from Plateau yet, adding that farmers are still facing enormous challenges applying diverse techniques to stay afloat in tomato cultivation.

He said, “Honestly, the price of tomatoes is not favourable to me and most of us right now. If you check the cost of production you would see that things have changed; and before you get a clean tomato right now that is free from any form of pest invasion attack is a problem.

“So, the farmers usually spend more now to get good products out. For instance, the price of tomato per basket now is between N3,000 and N4,000. That is even barely enough to make you get out the money you put into production.”

Absence of cold room

The situation is further worsened by the absence of adequate storage facilities, processing plants and effective market linkages, forcing farmers to sell at giveaway prices, cut and dry or watch their produce rot.

A vendor at the Kwanar Gafan tomato market, Alhaji Bello Sadik, said farmers had no option but to dry their produce to prevent spoilage. He noted that while this method is costly, it is preferable to allow the tomatoes rot.

Hafiz blamed the problem largely on poor electricity supply. “Lack of electricity is one of the main reasons we cannot preserve tomatoes,” he said.

He explained that stable electricity would encourage investment in storage and processing facilities.

“If there was stable electricity in Nigeria, people would establish companies and cold rooms to preserve tomatoes. With electricity, tomatoes can be stored in cold rooms or freezers for up to one year without spoiling,” he added.

He, however, noted that unreliable power supply and the high cost of solar energy made preservation difficult.

“Because electricity is not stable and solar power is expensive, most people cannot afford it. That is why tomatoes keep getting wasted,” he added.

He warned that as the farming season comes to an end, tomato scarcity may soon return.

“Now that the farming season is ending, tomatoes are gradually becoming scarce because everyone needs them at home,” he said.

‘There is need for action’

Alhaji Basheer Auwal, an agricultural expert from Kano, emphasized the need for an immediate action to implement efficient and sustainable processing methods, value addition strategies and structured market access schemes. Without these measures, he warned, the cyclical patterns of scarcity and surplus would persist, adversely affecting tomato farming and dissuading farmers from continuing in the industry.

He urged both the government and private investors to expedite the development of tomato processing facilities. He also advocated the enhancement and provision of cold storage facilities at key tomato markets, as well as the promotion of export opportunities. These steps, he argued, are essential to stabilise prices and safeguard farmers’ incomes and investments.

Scaling value chains

HortiNigeria, a key tomato donor agency sponsored by the Dutch Government, noted that Nigerian farmers often faced a frustrating reality: A bumper harvest (when crops yield an unusually large and abundant amount) can still mean financial loss. When market prices crash or fresh vegetables cannot be sold quickly enough, a lot of perfectly good produce might spoil before it has a chance to reach consumers.

Mohammed Salasi Idris, who has over 25 years of experience in agricultural development, agro-input systems and project management across Nigeria, and the programme director for HortiNigeria, said that for years, this cycle of post-harvest loss eroded Nigerian farmers’ incomes and discouraged investment in the sector.

The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), located in Ibadan, have been doing research to break this cycle. For example, NIHORT scientists turned excess tomatoes into tomato wine, creating new opportunities for farmers.

The scientists developed a unique solution to this challenge through tomato wine. By processing surplus fresh tomatoes into a shelf-stable, value-added product, they created a new market pathway for farmers to transform excess produce into a premium beverage with a longer shelf life and year-round sales potential.

For farmers, the success of tomato wine would mean lower post-harvest losses and more reliable income streams.

HortiNigeria said introducing such a novel product to consumers was not without challenges. Tomato wine is unfamiliar to much of Nigeria’s population, and as with any innovation, it requires visibility, credibility and demand to succeed, adding that it was facilitating business linkages and identifying ways to boost the marketability of tomato wine.

Stakeholders’ appeal

Hafiz Umar, the assistant chairman, Tomato Leda Cooperative Societies Sellers  at Mugadishu Market, Kaduna said,   “The government needs to help farmers and traders by providing storage facilities so that tomatoes can be available all-year- round. This will also help reduce prices.”

Another trader, Shuaibu Abubakar Sadauki Yakawada, also appealed to the government to intensify efforts to eliminate tomato diseases.

He warned that failure to address the recurring challenges would have serious consequences.

“If these problems continue, tomato farming and trading will face serious trouble, and that will affect our businesses and livelihoods,” he said.

FG’s approach

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the importance of strategic and robust investment in tomatoes.

This, he said, would boost productivity, minimise post-harvest losses, enhance food security and deliver significant financial rewards to investors.

During a paper presentation at the Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Investment Forum in Abuja, the minister highlighted the significant economic advantages of tomatoes for the country.

‘’The tomato investment, estimated at $869 million, targets 72,000 hectares in Kano, Bauchi and Borno. It will halve post-harvest losses, raise yields to as much as 30 tonnes per hectare, and directly benefit 36,000 farmers. The investment is projected to deliver an internal rate of return (IRR) of 12.5 per cent and a net present value (NPV) of $171 million,” he said.

Kyari further said that in terms of job creation, the federal government’s tomato value chain programme would directly benefit 36,000 farmers and indirectly impact more than 246,000 individuals through job creation and value chain participation.

He said it would also establish seed multiplication centres for high quality inputs, clean energy-powered processing plants, including mobile units for rural areas and stronger national institutions for quality assurance and agricultural research.

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