Lagos experiences drop in tomato prices by 58%

Prices of tomatoes have dropped by 58 percent in Lagos for the first time this year, bringing respite to households and reducing pressure on them.

Buzz Times surveyed markets across Lagos and found that a big basket of tomatoes currently sells for N50,000 as against an average of N120,000 some months ago in Mile 12 Market. A small basket of tomatoes now costs N6,500 against N13,000 in the period under review.

“When the rains begin to subside, prices of tomatoes will decline.

For pepper, a small basket of habanero pepper currently sells for an average of N13,000 as against N35,000 at the peak of the price surge in May-June, indicating a 68 percent decline in the period.

The July/August rain break has allowed for the proper germination of tomatoes in the north, its major growing region, farmers say.

Also, efforts by the federal government to tackle the pest invasion of Tuta absoluta on tomato farms have helped in taming the prices of the vegetables.