Gombe tomato farmers face tough times

Tomato and pepper farmers in Bula, Gombe State, are grappling with a sharp 90% collapse in tomato prices within two weeks. During a visit to the local market on September 12, 2024, farmers were seen struggling to sell their produce despite the drastic price drops. A large basket of tomatoes, once sold for N10,000, now fetches only N1,000, while the price of bell peppers has plummeted by 75%, and Scotch bonnet prices have dropped by 65%. Farmers like Alhaji Saleh Maikudi, Chairman of the Tomato Farmers Association in Bula, are suffering heavy losses daily, fearing massive post-harvest waste if they cannot secure buyers.
The collapse in prices has led to desperate pleas from farmers, urging both the federal and Gombe State governments to invest in processing plants to help manage surplus produce, which could otherwise be stored and converted into value-added products like tomato paste. Local vegetable sellers have echoed similar sentiments, calling for private sector intervention to set up mini-processing facilities.
Source: Dailytrust

Expert Review for Agri-food Stakeholders:
The current situation in Bula highlights the critical need for robust post-harvest management strategies in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The sharp decline in tomato and pepper prices, driven by oversupply and inadequate market demand, exposes a significant gap in Nigeria’s agricultural infrastructure—namely, the lack of processing and storage facilities. Without these, farmers are at the mercy of fluctuating market prices, leading to massive financial losses and food waste.
To avoid recurring price collapses and post-harvest losses, stakeholders should focus on value addition through investments in processing facilities. Converting surplus tomatoes into paste or powder is a sustainable solution that could stabilize market prices, improve profitability, and extend the shelf life of perishable produce. Such initiatives would also provide income stability for farmers during market downturns.
The private sector could play a crucial role by developing partnerships with local governments and farmer cooperatives to establish mini-processing plants. This could enhance the agricultural value chain, ensuring that excess produce does not go to waste and supporting the long-term viability of farmers in Gombe and beyond.