By Abdullahi Lukman
Nigeria has suffered agricultural losses exceeding N1.3 billion following an outbreak of Tuta absoluta, commonly referred to as the tomato leaf miner or “Tomato Ebola,” in Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on Wednesday at the opening of a four-day capacity-building workshop for financial institutions in Abuja.
The event was organised by HortiNigeria, in collaboration with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc.
The minister explained that the pest invasion has drastically reduced tomato yields, causing the price of a 50-kilogram basket to surge from N5,000 to between N10,000 and N30,000.
The price spike has contributed to soaring food inflation, placing additional strain on household budgets.
Kyari described the outbreak as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Nigeria’s horticultural systems, warning that Tuta absoluta can destroy entire fields within 48 hours.
“The situation calls for urgent investment in integrated pest management, climate-resilient crop varieties, and increased farmer support to secure our food systems,” he said.
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Citing recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Kyari noted that tomatoes led the food price index with a 320 percent year-on-year increase, followed by peppers and other produce.
He stressed that such inflation disproportionately affects low-income households and small-scale food vendors who rely heavily on these staple ingredients.
Despite current challenges, the minister described horticulture as a “sleeping giant” in Nigerian agriculture, capable of driving rural transformation, creating jobs, improving nutrition, and boosting trade.
He urged financial institutions to provide structured and inclusive financing to unlock the sector’s potential.
“Horticulture is not just farming—it is a vibrant agribusiness ecosystem with scalable investment opportunities that can drive inclusive growth,” he said.
Kyari highlighted the benefits of horticulture, including higher returns per hectare, shorter production cycles, climate resilience, and strong links to retail, export, and food processing markets.
He also emphasized the sector’s role in providing vital nutrients that can combat malnutrition.
The minister called on stakeholders to work together to harness the full potential of the sector.
“By investing in horticulture, we are financing livelihoods, improving nutrition, and sowing the seeds of a more resilient and prosperous Nigeria,” he added.
