Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, has revealed that the surge in tomato prices is attributable to an infestation called Tomato Ebola, which has diminished its availability.
This was stated by Kyari in a post on X.com on Monday in response to a user’s request for action because “the cost of tomatoes is out of control; it’s like they’re charging us per seed.”
Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, attributed the scarcity and rising prices of tomatoes to a severe infestation of the tomato crop. In a statement released on Monday via his official X account, Kyari referred to the infestation causing the tomato scarcity as “Tomato Ebola” or “Tomato Leaf Miner.”
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 added that the ministry has outlined plans to combat the issue, which include deploying agricultural experts to affected areas to control and eliminate the infestation and supporting farmers with resources and guidance to recover their crops quickly.
“We understand the impact this has on your daily lives and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time, he added.”