ALL HAIL KING TOMATO!!!!!!!

For months now, tomatoes have largely disappeared from the market,the few that are avialable are sold for inconceivable prices.
Musa who sells suya ,somewhere in Lagos, insisted that slices of tomato on any purchase of suya attracted an additional #200..{haba}.  For him, even though satisfying his customers remained a priority, that would have to come at a very high cost.
           He further went on to say: "I get cucumber, cabbage and onions for my customers.Anyone wey want tomato go pay for am. E too cost for market"

Lately,the country has been hit by what could aptly be described as the worst tomato scarcity ever. Nigerians are yet to understand why such an important item has suddenly been priced out of their reach.

 Manhy Nigerians have have rained curses on the present governmet administratiuon for this scarcity but alas this crisis is beyond that.

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOMATO CRISIS

The tomato crisis is coming on the heels of a recent excrutiating fuel scarcity , fuel price hike and a general rise in commodity prices due to inflation.  Initially fears were first based on speculations that the sudden scarcity of tomato was caused by the establishment of tomato processing plants. It was speculated that owners of the plant mopped up the available stock in the market. Many factors have been cited responsible for this scarcity such as the recent fuel scarcity , unrest and insecurity in the north east, inadequate haverst and the planned relocation of the popular mile 12 market in Lagos.

 The dominant factor in this crisis is "TUTA ABSOLUTA" or what is known as the Tomato Ebola .

 A moth known as the Tomato Leaf Absoluta is the real culprit behind this scarcity. The pest which is likened to termites devouring wood were said to have first appeared in early march and has devastated tomato plantations in Jigawa, Bauchi, Sokoto, Taraba, Katsina and even Kano which is a major state in commercial cultivation. 
The invasion of these pests prompted the governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to declare a "tomato state of emergency".

 80% of the tomato farms have been ravaged by the pest, adding that over 200 tomato farmers in three out nof 12 tomato-producing Local governments areas of the state were affected by the plague which has cost them about #1 billion.

So dear Nigerians, please for the "tenure" of this crisis please lets resort to tomato-less meals .. These alternatives include vegetable stew or soup,carrot stew, chicken sauce, or better still enjoy a bowl of cassava flakes with groundnut..