A big basket of tomato, which previously ranged between N8, 000 and N11, 000, now sells for between N13, 000 and N17, 000. A medium-size basket of fresh pepper (tatashe) now sells for N12, 000, from N8,000, while a jute bag of onions cost N35, 000 from the N25, 000 last week.
Traders attributed climate change, lingering fuel scarcity and insecurity in the North as factors for the price increase. Mr Femi Odusanya, the Spokesman for Mile 12 Perishable Food Traders Association, said that the climate change had adversely affected the growth of farm produce.
“Farmers are complaining because the climate change has affected the development process of the crops. “Harvest that ought to have started now will be delayed till January. “We have few trucks bringing produce to the market, that is why there are complaints of scarcity of pepper in some areas.” He said that consumers would continue to spend more on these condiments till the situation improved.
“Families that spent N500 on pepper for their stew before should be ready to spend N1000 on the same quantity.” Odusanya urged the government to invest in agriculture by improving the storage capacity of farmers to boost the food supplies in the country. Mr Muftua Alli, the Vice-President, Iddo Market Association, said that the fuel scarcity had reduced the numbers of trucks that were coming to the market.
Alli said that insecurity in the North-East had forced many farmers to migrate, while the remaining few were being discouraged due to losses from market supply hitches. He advised government to address the fuel scarcity before it crippled the economy.