The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has stepped in to address the outbreak of the tomato disease, commonly referred to as Tomato Ebola, in several regions of the country. This intervention was announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who expressed concern for the affected tomato farmers.
Senator Kyari explained, “A substantial number of our tomato farms are suffering from a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has significantly reduced tomato availability and driven up prices.”
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The ministry is taking swift measures to tackle the problem by dispatching agricultural experts to the impacted areas to control and eradicate the infestation. “We are also providing farmers with the necessary resources and guidance to help them recover their crops as swiftly as possible, similar to our efforts with the Ginger Blight Control Taskforce,” Kyari added.
Acknowledging the impact on consumers, he assured, “We recognize the challenges this situation presents to your daily lives and are working tirelessly to restore the supply of affordable tomatoes.”
Currently, tomato prices have soared, ranging between N90,000 and N100,000 in the market, with many farmers facing significant losses due to the insect invasion and damage.
