The prices of tomatoes have gone up by 1,000 per cent in Jos and environs<\/p>\n
in Plateau, a market survey by NAN has shown.<\/p>\n
Our correspondents, who visited some of the markets and other selling
\npoints on Thursday, found out that the commodity had gone beyond the reach
\nof the average Nigerian.<\/p>\n
At the Terminus Market in Jos, a small basket of the commodity, which used
\nto be N350, was selling for N3,500.<\/p>\n
NAN also found that a big basket of the commodity, which sold for N1,000
\nabout two months ago, now costs N10,000.<\/p>\n
The story was the same at the Tudun Wada Market in Jos North Local
\nGovernment, where a medium basket of the commodity, which sold for N550 in
\nMarch, was sold for N5,600.<\/p>\n
NAN reports that prospective small buyers seeking N150 worth of the
\ncommodity, were turned back by the retailers, who said that they did not
\nhave any quantity for that little amount.<\/p>\n
Speaking to NAN, one of the retailers of the commodity, Mrs. Nanret Abimu,
\nsaid, \u201cHonestly, I do not know one specific reason why the price is this
\nhigh\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe price changes every day. One day a basket is N5,000. The next day,
\nyou are told it is N10,000. It is a very tough situation,\u201d she told NAN.<\/p>\n
Investigation by NAN showed that the price increase was caused by seasonal
\nchanges, especially at the onset of the rains.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is generally a dry season for vegetables.<\/p>\n
\u201cẀhen heavy rains starts, the vegetable gets rotten on the farms,
\nwhich generally affects supply.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means that many retailers or wholesalers could go directly to the
\nfarms but will not get much and may be forced to purchase at outrageous
\nprices out of desperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen that happens, the effect is on the buyer and the eventual consumer,
\nwhich is what we have now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Some consumers, who spoke with NAN on the situation, said that they had
\nleft out stew \u201cfor now\u201d, in their daily menu.<\/p>\n
A housewife, Mrs Nenkwat Joseph, said that she had tried to improvise by
\nusing pepper to spice up some dishes.<\/p>\n
Another consumer, Miss Mishrap Aro, told NAN that she envisaged the rise
\nin the price and prepared for it by buying in large quantities when the
\nprice was good.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought tomatoes a long time; I cut each piece into two, dried it up and
\nfetch it for use now anytime I need it.<\/p>\n
\u201cNormally, I soaked the dried tomatoes inside water and grind it; once
\nthat is done, it comes back as fresh tomatoes,\u201d she told NAN.<\/p>\n
Also speaking to NAN, a student, Micheal Ali said that he had resorted to
\ntin or sachet tomato instead of the fresh variant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The prices of tomatoes have gone up by 1,000 per cent in Jos and environs in Plateau, a market survey by NAN has shown. Our correspondents, who visited some of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49343,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n