Rising Tomato Prices Force Lagos Residents to Seek Alternatives
The soaring cost of tomatoes in Nigeria has led many residents in Lagos to explore alternative ingredients for their meals. This shift is driven by the current economic challenges, which have made it increasingly difficult for households to afford basic staples like tomatoes.
A New Approach to Cooking
Mrs. Olachi Iroha, a resident of Amuwo, shared her experience with the rising prices. She mentioned that she now uses palm kernel for stews instead of tomatoes. "Tomatoes are actually expensive now, so if the costs keep rising, we will switch to an alternative," she said. Mrs. Iroha recently purchased a small paint bucket of tomatoes for N8,000 after much pleading. She added that if the situation continues, she might have to put the purchase of tomatoes on hold and opt for palm kernel stew, known locally as 'ofe akwu'.
Struggling with Affordability
Mrs. Temitope Babalola-Hodonu, from Alimosho, expressed her frustration over the high price of tomatoes. She bought a mini basket of tomatoes over the weekend for N50,000, which was significantly higher than the N15,000 or N18,000 she used to pay. "I felt so bad spending so much on what I would have bought for N15,000 or N18,000 weeks back," she said. The scarcity of tomatoes in the market also forced her to buy whatever was available. "We hope for a change because it is not everybody that likes tomato alternatives," she added.
Impact on Food Vendors
The increase in tomato prices has also affected food vendors in the city. Iya Adetoun, a popular food vendor at Dopemu, described the impact on her business. "We have not been finding it easy in the cooking business since this hike in tomato prices, and we cannot use alternatives for mass cooking," she said. She mentioned that a small bucket of tomatoes, which she used to buy for N6,000 or N7,000, was sold to her for N35,000 over the weekend. "We hope the price drops because how can we break even if we continue buying at this exorbitant price?" she questioned.
Adjusting Meal Plans
Mrs. Anne Odafe, a resident of Ago Palace Way, explained how she adjusts her meal plans due to the high cost of tomatoes. "The price of tomatoes is currently too expensive and cannot meet the volume I need to prepare for my family," she said. She noted that tomatoes worth N4,000 do not go far when preparing enough stew for her family. Some people blend cucumbers with their tomatoes to increase the quantity, while Mrs. Odafe adds more tin tomatoes than usual to boost the amount.
Exploring Other Options
Another consumer, Mrs. Ifeoma Okoye, shared her approach to dealing with the high cost of tomatoes. She uses cucumber, spring onions, and cabbage to make her stew. "The high cost of tomatoes is no longer funny considering the low purchasing power of most households," she said. Mrs. Okoye emphasized that no alternative tastes like tomato stew. "I can't wait for the price to drop because no alternative tastes like tomato stew," she concluded.
Regional Price Discrepancies
According to reports, the price of tomatoes varies across different regions in Nigeria. In the North, 50kg of tomatoes can be sold for as high as N50,000, while the same quantity is priced between N85,000 and N100,000 from late June to date. These discrepancies highlight the widespread impact of the rising tomato prices on both consumers and businesses.
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