Nigeria: Katsina tomato farmers lose profit to production cost

Tomato farmers in Katsina State are struggling to recoup their investments as the market value of the produce has declined in recent times. Despite the huge cost of production hinged on fuel subsidy removal, which triggered more than 100 per cent rise in the prices of inputs, earnings from sales left many in losses. The farmers said they had spent a lot in fuelling their watering machines, pesticides and fertiliser, among other things. Halliru Sani, a farmer in Tafoki Faskari Local Government Area, said their expectations were to make huge revenue this year, going by the way many farmers avoided producing the crop for lack capital. “Because of the high cost of fuel, fertiliser and other inputs, many of us would rather go for cabbage, and that makes us to produce tomato in anticipation of making huge profit, but unfortunately, the result is contrary to our expectations. The price in our local markets is poor,” Sani said. He attributed the development to the selfish interest of ...