In Nigeria, a serious problem has hit households. Fresh tomatoes and peppers, which are considered essential ingredients in many meals, have become very expensive.
In fact, many say it has never been this bad.Â
At the moment, many people are struggling to afford them. But Nigerians are known for their resourcefulness.
People have started finding interesting ways to manage the situation. Some are using alternative ingredients, while others are looking for cheaper options.
Price Of TomatoesÂ
At Ketu Market in Lagos, which is easily the convergence of food items, a basket of tomatoes that used to cost about ₦30,000 now goes for over ₦160,000.
Although many reports have attributed the scarcity and high cost to insecurity in some states, particularly the food basket states.
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Some experts have explained that the situation has been worsened by lack of adequate rainfall at the beginning of the planting season. Tomato is a seasonal vegetable.
Despite these challenges, Nigerians are finding ways to support each other. People are sharing tips and advice on how to cope with the shortage.
Alternative For TomatoesÂ
As the price of tomatoes are high and households cannot afford it, some women said they have resorted to using shombo and onions, dry tomatoes and shombo, Onga and others.
Some use cucumber for stew making.
At the moment, many Nigerians are calling on the government to help.
They want the government to address the high cost of living, food insecurity, and other related challenges.
Earlier in the year, the government had said it was exploring dry season farming in some states.
Nigerians had hoped that this strategy would make tomatoes available.
