- Kyari added that the ministry has outlined plans to combat the issue
Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, revealed that the increase in tomato prices is due to an infestation called Tomato Ebola, which has decreased supply.
Kyari made this statement on X.com on Monday in response to a user who requested action on the skyrocketing tomato prices, commenting, “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 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.”