The Dangote Farms Tomato Processing Factory
announced that it has halted operations in its
$20 million tomato paste facility due to a
scarcity of tomatoes, barely two months after
beginning operations. This announcement comes
as a surprise to many that believed Dangote was
the reason for the tomatoes shortage plaguing
Nigeria. The tomato plant was anticipated to help
reduce wastage of the fruit in the country and to
also minimise the amount of imported tomato
pastes in the Nigerian market. According to
Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria
produces about 1.5 million tons of tomatoes a
year, but over 900,000 tons is lost to rot.
Nigerians have been severely affected by the
scarcity of tomatoes, which is a key ingredient in
most of the delicacies prepared in this part of the
continent. The price of the fruit has increased by
400 percent; Nigerians now pay around 200
Naira for the same quantity of tomatoes which
was sold at 50 Naira few months ago. But while
there have been different rumours
concerning the tomato scarcity, the real reason
for the scarcity is a devastating pest attack which
has affected this year’s harvest. A pest known as
Tuta absoluta has reportedly affected tomato
farms in Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and
Plateau states.

Ok.