The Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria attributes the current surge in tomato prices to the widespread infestation of local farms by the ‘Tuta Absoluta’ pest.
The Kaduna State chairman of the association, RABIU ZUNTU, said this in an interview with the News men on Thursday, may 30th in Lagos.
Tuta absoluta, also known as Tomato Leaf Miner, is a serious pest that attacks tomatoes in Europe, Africa, western Asia and South and Central America, with larvae causing up to 100 per cent loss if not effectively controlled.
ZUNTU noted that the hike in the price of tomatoes was due to a shortage of supply caused by the destruction of many farms by the Tuta Absoluta insect.
ZUNTU urged the government to help forestall the infestation by providing timely interventions to the farmers.
He said if some tomato-producing states in North and Central Nigeria had received the pesticides earlier, there would not have been a price hike.