Tomato farmers in Nigeria have reassured consumers that the usual surge in tomato and other vegetable prices during the Ramadan fasting period is unlikely this year, thanks to a bumper harvest and favourable market timing.
Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, Kaduna State Chairman of the Tomatoes Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (TGPMAN), said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, that unlike previous years, the dynamics for the 2026 Ramadan season are expected to ease pressure on prices.
According to Zuntu, the last planting and harvest season was generally beneficial for farmers despite earlier challenges, resulting in an abundant supply of tomato and other vegetables.
This, coupled with the early timing of Ramadan, which begins in February and ends in March this year, coincides with the peak of the tomato harvest, ensuring that markets will be well-stocked.
He explained that prices are influenced by demand and supply; with high supply and reduced demand during the fasting period, when many Muslim faithful skip breakfast and lunch, tomato prices could actually fall rather than rise.
“In previous years, Ramadan fell around April when supply was low because the harvest period had ended. But this year, tomatoes are abundant in northern states such as Kaduna and Kano, which means the price may crash further,” Zuntu said.
Market data supported by the association shows that a 50kg basket of tomatoes in northern markets now sells between ₦7,000 and ₦10,000, down from as low as ₦5,000 in recent weeks.
However, after transportation to southern markets such as Lagos, the same basket goes for between ₦18,000 and ₦20,000.
Despite this optimism, the farmers’ association appealed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for continued support in the coming planting season, particularly regarding the provision of farm inputs to sustain production and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
