It sounds backwards: a record tomato harvest, and farmers are losing money. But that's exactly what's happening across parts of Kano and Kaduna.
The Real Bottleneck
Nigeria lacks sufficient cold storage and processing infrastructure to absorb a surplus harvest. When supply outpaces what markets can move fresh, prices crash — sometimes below the cost of production.
"We grow more than enough food in this country. We just don't have anywhere to put it once it's grown."
What Would Actually Fix It
Agricultural economists point to a familiar list: more processing plants to turn surplus tomatoes into paste, better rural road networks to move produce faster, and stronger cold-chain logistics. Several private agritech startups are attempting to fill these gaps, but experts say the scale of investment needed is still far beyond what current private efforts can cover alone.
For now, many farmers say they're bracing for the next bumper season with the same dread as a bad one.
