By MERCY OMOIKE

The Tomatoes Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (TGPMAN) has allayed fears about the annual price hike of tomatoes and other vegetable produce during the upcoming Ramadan fast.

The Kaduna State Chairman of the Association, Mr Rabiu Zuntu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Zuntu noted that, unlike the usual price hike of tomatoes and peppers during the Ramadan period, this year would be different due to a bounty harvest and timing of the Ramadan fast.

“Last year’s planting and harvest season was not beneficial for farmers generally, considering the low price of produce and the high cost of inputs for agricultural produce.

“The prices of vegetable crops will drop further this Ramadan because the cultivation of most vegetable produce may increase due to the need for some vegetables to break the fast.

“Generally, the production of all the food items decreases due to the cutdown in consumption, and the Muslim faithful skip breakfast and lunch during the fast.

“So, the price of tomatoes may likely crash during Ramadan.

“However, the prices of these produce are determined by the forces of demand and supply. When there is a high supply, the prices always go down,” Zuntu said.

According to him, last year, due to the decrease in the price of some grains and some other food items, a lot of farmers up north cultivated more vegetable items.

“This was what led to high yield, despite the effect of Tuta Aboluta virus.

“Most Ramadan fast begins usually around April, when there’s a low supply in the market due to the harvest period being over.

“But this year, Ramadan, will begin in February, and end in March. This period is actually the peak of tomatoes harvest.

“In some northern states like Kaduna, Kano, and some other areas where they have yet to pick up the harvest, this means the price of tomatoes may crash further.

“Nigerians should not expect any increase in price of tomatoes during the Ramadan because the demand will get lower due to the fast.

“The demand will reduce, and there’s still a high supply of tomatoes here in the northern market,” the farmer said.

He disclosed that, “Currently, a 50kg basket of tomatoes up North sells between N7,000 and N10,000 depending on the species or size .

“As of last week and two weeks ago, the same quantity sold for as low as N5,000 per basket. Due to logistics, a 50kg basket of tomatoes sells between N18,000 and N20,000.

“As a chapter, we will like to appreciate the national leadership of the tomato farmers association, our national body, for all their efforts to ensure that the government intervenesvv to reduce the hardship of the vegetable farmers.

“We also appeal to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to come to the aid of vegetable farmers in the 2026 planting season, especially in the provision of farm in

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