Nigerian households are switching to tomato paste, banga stew, and garden egg sauce as the price of fresh tomatoes surges 188 percent year to date.
The price spike is forcing families to abandon fresh tomatoes in favor of cheaper alternatives amid erratic supply and rising transportation costs.
The price jump comes as Tuta Absoluta, popularly called ‘Tomato Ebola’ invaded farmlands in Kaduna, Kano and Plateau states, among others, Nigeria’s major growing region of the fresh fruits.
BusinessDay’s survey across major markets in Lagos showed that a big basket of fresh tomatoes now sells for an average of N115,000 as against an average of N40,000 sold in January.
A small basket sells for N20,000 as against N7,000 sold in January. The average price of a crate of fresh tomatoes is sold for N65,000.
Also, a 25kg bag of pepper, popularly known as ‘Rodo’, now sells for an average of N120,000 in
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