Anambra State traders say the sharp increase in tomato prices across major markets in the State resulted from a decline in supply caused by persistent rainfall and flooding in key tomato-producing areas of the country.
A BusinessDay survey conducted at Eke-Awka Market, Ose Main Market, Onitsha and Nkpor Main Markets showed that the price of a basket of tomatoes had increased from between N65,000 and N70,000 to between N100,000 and N150,000, depending on size and quality.
Ngozi Ekeh, a tomato wholesaler at Eke-Awka Market, said that persistent rainfall in Jos and Makurdi, major tomato-producing areas of the country, had negatively impacted farming activities and reduced output.
She stressed that flooding along key transportation corridors had further disrupted the distribution of tomatoes to markets across the country, worsening the supply shortage.
Ifeanyi Okafor, another tomato wholesaler, said traders were struggling to maintain supplies due to irregular deliveries from the North.
