The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria has lost over N1.3 billion due to the outbreak of Tuta absoluta, commonly known as tomato leaf miner or “Tomato Ebola,” in three states.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, made the statement during a four-day capacity-building workshop for financial institutions in Abuja on Wednesday. The workshop is organized by HortiNigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc.
Kyari explained that the outbreak has led to a significant increase in tomato prices, with the cost of a 50-kilogram basket rising from N5,000 to N10,000, and in some cases, reaching approximately N30,000. This surge in prices has exacerbated food inflation, placing additional strain on household budgets.
The states most affected by the pest are Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna. Kyari highlighted the devastating impact of tomato Ebola, emphasizing that the pest can destroy crops within 48 hours, leading to catastrophic yield losses. He further stressed the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties, and greater support for farmers to protect the nation’s food supply chains.
“Tomatoes and peppers are essential ingredients in virtually every Nigerian kitchen, serving as baseline commodities for daily cooking. When the prices of these staples spike, it triggers a chain reaction that affects the cost of meals across homes, restaurants, and food vendors,” Kyari noted.
According to the 2024 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), tomatoes led the food price index with an alarming 320% year-on-year increase, followed by peppers and other produce. Kyari pointed out that these price hikes disproportionately affect low-income households, underscoring the need for more stable production, improved storage, and accessible finance across the horticulture value chain.
Kyari described horticulture as the “sleeping giant” of Nigerian agriculture, with immense potential to transform the sector. He stressed that unlocking this potential requires access to sustainable, well-structured financing. Horticulture, which includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, flowers, and ornamentals, is not only a sub-sector of agriculture but a dynamic engine for rural transformation, job creation, improved nutrition, and trade diversification.
As urbanization grows and consumer demand for fresh, healthy produce increases, horticulture is well-positioned to meet this demand. Despite the challenges in the sector, Kyari emphasized its promise, noting that horticulture offers higher value per hectare compared to staple crops, making it ideal for smallholder commercialization. The sector also provides year-round employment, especially for women and youth, with strong linkages to processing, packaging, retail, and export markets.
In addition to its economic benefits, horticulture also offers climate resilience through protected cultivation and irrigation systems, urban food access through peri-urban farming, and logistics integration. Kyari outlined key contributions of the sector, including agricultural diversification, food and nutrition security, employment, import substitution, and export potential.
“By scaling up production and improving affordability, horticultural crops can play a vital role in tackling malnutrition in all its forms,” Kyari added. He urged financial institutions to understand the horticulture value chain, from seed to shelf, and to move beyond generic lending by developing tailored financial products for the sector, such as seasonal credit lines, equipment leasing, and trade financing.
Kyari concluded by emphasizing that investing in horticulture is not just about financing crops—it’s about financing livelihoods, nutrition, resilience, and inclusive growth, ultimately sowing the seeds for a healthier, wealthier, and more resilient Nigeria.
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