Nigerian traders turn to Cameroon as tomato scarcity worsens

Nigerian traders are sourcing tomatoes from Cameroon as shortages drive prices to historic highs back home.

Instead of relying on northern states, some traders are now buying cheaper supplies brought in from Cameroon to coastal towns in southern Nigeria, Pluboard learned.

In May, the price of a basket of tomatoes surged to N160,000, up from N20,000 a year ago, forcing many Nigerians to seek alternative ingredients for stews. Cameroonian tomatoes, however, are available for N60,000 a basket.

This drastic price increase highlights Nigeria’s severe food inflation, which reached a staggering 40.53% in April, making it difficult for families to afford essentials like rice, garri, beans, tomatoes, and yams.

Traders attribute the high tomato prices to seasonal shortages and increased transportation costs due to the removal of the petrol subsidy. Additionally, the government and farmers point to crop diseases as a contributing factor.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari said the shortages and price hikes are largely due to significant damage to tomato farms caused by “Tomato Ebola”.

“This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs,” the minister said. He said the government had deployed experts to affected areas to contain the outbreak.

The Kano state chairman of the Tomato Out Growers Association of Nigeria, Sani Danladi, told Premium Times the highly destructive pest, whose real name is Tuta Absoluta, reappeared in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa states in February.

“The Tomato Ebola started in February but because there are highly large production areas, it didn’t affect almost all the areas. But from April up till this period, that is when all the tomatoes have finished,” Mr Danladi said.

Currently, most tomatoes on sale are from Pankshin in Plateau state, and Ikara in Kaduna, he said.

Tomato Supply Issues

Amid high demand and soaring prices, traders in southern states are traveling to places like Oron in Akwa Ibom to buy tomatoes shipped in from Cameroon instead of sourcing them from northern Nigeria, Pluboard learned.

A trader in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said they spend significantly less to get tomatoes from Cameroon to local markets.

While it costs between N30,000 and N35,000 to bring a crate of tomatoes from Kaduna, which they sell to consumers for N70,000 to N80,000, the product from Cameroon arrives in Port Harcourt at N18,000 to N20,000 per crate, including transport costs. Two crates make a basket.

“This method is more affordable for customers, but it requires reliable contacts in Cameroon to help with purchasing and crossing the border,” said Adamu Abdullahi, a trader in Port Harcourt.

Mr Abdullahi said they are able to sell the imported tomato to consumers at about N40,000 a crate — or N80,000 per basket.

Traders said they expect prices to normalize around September as new harvests arrive.