Some tomato sellers in Enugu have attributed the current drop in the price of the commodity to its harvest season which has led to a glut.
A visit by a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to some of the major markets in Enugu on Saturday, showed that a big basket of tomatoes now sells for N11,500 as against the previous price of N16, 000.
According to the traders, the price of tomatoes usually dropped during its harvest season.
One of them, Oge Madu, a tomato seller, at Garki Market, said that the major reason for the sudden reduction in the price of tomatoes was due to the cultivation of tomatoes in Enugu (Nsukka)
“The Nsukka tomatoes are also flooding the markets and this has made the commodity to reduce in price.
“During rainy season tomatoes are scarce, the prices are high, but in dry season, they are surplus and the prices usually drop,” Miss Madu said.
Also, Rufus Ozor, a tomato seller at new Akwata in Garki Market, said the prices of tomatoes had significantly dropped in Enugu markets.
“A small basket of UTC tomatoes that comes from Jos now goes for between N7,000 and N8, 500 as against N13,000 in October.
“A month ago, UTC tomatoes was scarce and expensive, but now it has flooded the markets making it affordable by everyone,” Mr Ozor said.
Meanwhile, the pepper sellers, on the other hand, have lamented over the increase in the price of pepper in the markets.
ALSO READ: Prices of egg, tomatoes, rice, yam increased in November – NBS
Agnes Onu, a pepper seller at Mayor market, said that a bag of ‘Scotch Bonnet Pepper’ “ata-rodo” which was previously sold for N8,000, now sells for between N13,500 and N17,000.

“This is pepper planting season that is why it is scarce now,” Miss Onu said.
Another pepper seller, who spoke on condition of anonymity added that the cost of transportation also added to the increase in the price of the commodity.
“What l know is that we sell as we buy from those that bring it to the market,” she said.(NAN)
Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...
Discussion about this post