By MERCY OMOIKE

The National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) has predicted the steady increase in the price of the produce post-Ramadan.

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

Zuntu said the price of the produce would steadily increase following the end of harvest and decline in glut experienced early in the year.

“The harvest period for tomatoes is over, so, we should be expecting a higher price of the produce in the coming months.

“Though we still have the produce in stock but it is gradually dwindling and we no longer have glut as we had earlier in the year.

“Although farmers in the Kano and Kaduna axis are still harvesting tomatoes, we no longer have gluts.

“The volume of tomatoes has gone down. The glut season is over too,” he said

Zuntu noted that the price of tomatoes and other veggies have been stable since Ramadan due to excess harvest.

“But with the decline in the glut we experienced in the early months of the year, the price of tomatoes will be on the increase,” he said.

He, however, noted that preparation for the wet season cultivation was underway, to help curtail the price hike in the coming months.

“For us up North the rainy season is on course, there is no delay in the rain because we are approaching the wet season, we are expecting rain based on our tradition around April.

“So, we have started preparing the farm and land clearing in preparation for the wet season farming.

“Currently, a 50kg basket of tomatoes in the north basket sells for about N20,000.

“It is going high in comparison to the last two weeks where the same quantity sold for between N5,000 and N8,000.

“However, before the produce is transported to Lagos and other parts of the country, it will be sold between N30,000 to N40,000.

“The increase in fuel price will not affect the prices of tomatoes up North but transportation to other places will definitely affect the price in other areas,” he said. (NAN)

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