Success Nwankwo
Increased Cost of Tomatoes: FG blames Ebola
The Federal Government has said the increase in tomato prices is due to an infection known as Tomato Ebola, which limited their supply.
The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari claimed this in a post on X.com, in response to a user who requested that something be done because “the cost of tomatoes is out of control; it’s like they are charging us per seed.”
In his post, the Minister wrote, “A significant number of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs.”
Kyari noted that the ministry has set strategies to address the problem, which include sending agricultural experts to impacted areas to control and eradicate the infestation, as well as providing farmers with resources and information to help them recover their crops swiftly.
We appreciate how this affects your daily lives and are working hard to address the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult period, he concluded.