Celebrations during the Christmas season promise to be pocket friendly. This is because food items and condiments may not be as expensive as they were last year. This assurance came from the Tomatoes Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria. The association predicted an increased supply of the produce ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
This Was disclosed in Lagos on Monday by the Chairman of the association, Mr Rabiu Zuntu.
He said the increase in the quantity that will flood the market also suggests that the price of the produce would gradually decline ahead of festivities.
Hear him: “Actually, the price of tomatoes is presently down, and most times it is influenced by the forces of demand and supply. The higher the supply, the lower the price, and vice versa.
“Presently, the volume of supply is increasing, and the price has gone down considerably. Up north last week, a 50kg basket of tomatoes sold between N25,000 and N30,000 compared with N40,000 and N60,000 weeks back.
“Currently, the same quantity of tomatoes sells between N15,000 and N16,000 up north.
“So, with the increased supply of tomatoes currently, there is going to be enough for Christmas and New Year celebration.”
Now, his confidence also derives from the realisation that more farmers were yet to harvest their produce at the moment.
Zuntu said, “Actually, we are going to have enough because, looking at the farming situation and the level of maturity or ripeness of the tomato ready for harvesting.
“There are some farm areas that have not yet started harvesting and with those who have started, the quantity will continue to increase towards the Christmas and the New Year celebrations.”
He is right because at the moment, a 50kg basket of tomatoes in Lagos sells between N40,000 and N50,000.
The same quantity was sold between N80,000 and N100,000 in the previous months. Similarly, a crate is sold between N15,000 and N18,000.
