High Farm Input Costs Driving Up Tomato Prices, TOOPAN Says

Oyeleke Bola, national president of Nigeria’s Tomatoes and Orchard Producers Association (TOOPAN), blamed rising tomato prices on increasingly costly farm inputs, especially seeds, made more expensive by the naira’s depreciation. Seeds that once cost 20,000–25,000 naira now sell for 35,000–40,000 naira, while fertiliser remains expensive despite support from the Bank of Agriculture. TOOPAN is working to raise yields from 25 to 80 tonnes per hectare and will hold its national conference in Abuja on November 26–27, 2026. The association is also exploring processing and preservation methods, including solar dryers, to reduce post-harvest losses.