Price of tomatoes has soared by about 60 per cent in some major markets in Enugu, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A NAN survey conducted on Saturday revealed that a big basket of tomatoes, which cost N16,000 some weeks back has risen to N22,000 while the price of a small basket has risen to N15,000 from N8,000.
A 4.5-litre bucket of tomatoes now goes for N2,000 as against between N800 and N900 previous weeks.
Mr Azubike Owoh, the leader of the Garki Market Perishable Traders Association, attributed the price increase to off-season of the commodity and cost of transportation.
A tomato seller, Mrs Joy Nnamani, at the Garki market said that the price of tomato was still relatively cheaper compared to the same period two years ago.
Meanwhile, another tomato seller at New Market, Mrs Mary Ukachukwu, said the influx of tomatoes from different communities in Enugu states into the markets had augmented the shortfall of supply from the north.
“With the help of tomato farmers in some communities in this state, there is little or no tomato scarcity this year in Enugu,’’ Ukachukwu said.
NAN survey revealed that the price of onions has also increased in the market.
Mrs Ruth Ibe, an onion seller at Mayor Market, said that the price of a big bag of onion had increased from N9,000 to N15,000.
