The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tomatoes

  • Prices of tomatoes, pepper drop by 45% in Lagos

    Prices of tomatoes, pepper drop by 45% in Lagos

    Ahead of Christmas,  prices of tomatoes, pepper and onions have reduced by about 45 per cent in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    NAN price checks at Mile 12, Whitesand, Iddo and Oko Oba markets in Lagos yesterday revealed that the drop in prices was due to bumper harvest of agricultural produce.

    NAN reports that a basket of tomatoes, which previously sold for N15, 000 now goes for N8, 000; red pepper (tatashe) now costs N8000 compared to its previous price of N14, 000 a basket.

    A basket of chilli pepper (rodo) fell from N18, 000 to N10, 000 and a jute bag of onions, which previously cost N30, 000, now goes for N20, 000.

    A 25-litre of vegetable oil, which previously sold for N11, 500, now costs N10, 700, palm oil decreased from N11, 000 to N10, 300,  a measure of garri is now N400.

    However, the price of a 50- kilogramme bag of rice ranges between N13, 500 and N17, 000, depending on the brand; a measure of beans costs N1,500.

    Mr Femi Odusanya, spokesman for Mile 12 Market Traders Association, attributed the price drop to the ongoing harvest season for most of the produce.

    “Over 20 per cent of the annual four million metric tonnes of tomatoes produced in the country is supplied to Mile 12 Market annually and redistributed to over 400 markets in Lagos and Ogun States and six  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member-countries.”

    “That is why we have been advocating for increased investment in tomato processing plant to mop up the excess and reduce waste, create jobs and increase contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Odusanya said.

    He urged the three tiers of government to create an enabling environment toward attracting more investors to tomato processing in the country.

  • Benefits of Tomatoes

    Did you know that tomatoes do not have to be a deep red colour to be an outstanding source of Lycopene? Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment that has long been associated with the deep red colour of many tomatoes. A small preliminary study on healthy men and women has shown that the lycopene from orange- and tangerine-coloured tomatoes may actually be better absorbed than the lycopene from red tomatoes. That’s because the lycopene in deep red tomatoes is mostly trans-lycopene, and the lycopene in orange/tangerine tomatoes is mostly tetra-cis-lycopene. In a recent study, this tetra-cis form of lycopene turned out to be more efficiently absorbed by the study participants. While more research is needed in this area, we’re encouraged to find that tomatoes may not have to be deep red in order for us to get great lycopene-related benefits.

    • Tomatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content, including, of course, their oftentimes-rich concentration of lycopene. Researchers have recently found an important connection between lycopene, its antioxidant properties, and bone health. A study was designed in which tomato and other dietary sources of lycopene were removed from the diets of postmenopausal women for a period of 4 weeks, to see what effect lycopene restriction would have on bone health. At the end of 4 weeks, women in the study started to show increased signs of oxidative stress in their bones and unwanted changes in their bone tissue. The study investigators concluded that removal of lycopene-containing foods (including tomatoes) from the diet was likely to put women at increased risk of osteoporosis. They also argued for the importance of tomatoes and other lycopene-containing foods in the diet. We don’t always think about antioxidant protection as being important for bone health, but it is, and tomato lycopene (and other tomato antioxidants) may have a special role to play in this area.
    • There are literally hundreds of different tomato varieties. We usually choose our favorite varieties by some combination of flavor, texture, and appearance. But a recent study has shown that we may also want to include antioxidant capacity as a factor when we are choosing among tomato varieties. Surprisingly, researchers who compared conventionally grown versus organically grown tomatoes found that growing method (conventional versus organic) made less of an overall difference than variety of tomato. While all tomatoes showed good antioxidant capacity, and while the differences were not huge, the following four varieties of tomatoes turned out to have a higher average antioxidant capacity regardless of whether they were grown conventionally or organically: New Girl, Jet Star, Fantastic, and First Lady. It’s only one study, of course, and we’re definitely not ready to recommend these four varieties at the exclusion of all others. But these findings are fascinating to us, and they suggest that specific types of nutrient benefits may be provided by specific varieties of tomatoes. Also, if you’re seeking good antioxidant protection and you’re in the grocery standing in front of a New Girl, Jet Star, Fantastic, or First Lady tomato, you would probably be well-served to place it in your shopping cart.
    • Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health. Fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. In addition, tomato extracts have been shown to help prevent unwanted clumping together (aggregation) of platelet cells in the blood – a factor that is especially important in lowering risk of heart problems like atherosclerosis. (In a recent South American study of 26 vegetables, tomatoes and green beans came out best in their anti-aggregation properties.) But only recently are researchers beginning to identify some of the more unusual phytonutrients in tomatoes that help provide us with these heart-protective benefits.

  • Of tomatoes, pepper and Dangote

    SIR: For the generality of our compatriots, the real signal that our dear nation is passing through a season of deep rooted economic dilemma is amply reflected in current irrepressible upsurge in the price of food items. Naturally, such unusual rise always comes with serious repercussion on the budgets of most homes. The reason for this is quite obvious. Food consumption is a daily necessity that every home cannot do without.

    Currently, at the kitchen departments of nearly all homes, the most trending gist, for now, is the exorbitant price of tomatoes and pepper. The common gist, among women, now centres on the high cost of tomatoes and pepper. Accordingly and, perhaps, unsurprisingly, managers of the all important kitchen department in most homes are already agitating for a corresponding increment in the monthly fund allocated for housekeeping.

    Of late, the common tendency is to ascribe increase in the price of any item to the dwindling fortune of naira against the dollar. But then, could there be any connection between rise in tomatoes’ price and the potency of dollar against naira? Why is tomato and, its ‘nephew’, pepper, gradually getting out of the reach of ordinary folks?

    One theory that actually came up in the process of trying to unearth this mystery is the Dangote connection. The mainstay of this theory, which of course has not been sufficiently proven in anyway, is that one of Dangote’s firms is responsible for the recent surge, especially in the price of tomatoes. The gist is that the firm which is basically involved in the production of tomato paste is mopping up every available tomato across town in order to meet up with production target.

    Now, the main issue of this discourse is that the current tomatoes and pepper status is an indication of the unlimited opportunities that abound in the agriculture sector.  It shows that there is a huge market for agricultural produce in the country. Therefore, there is a need to recreate a modernized professional and commercial farming sector, supported by improved infrastructure and research into high performance seeds and livestock. To encourage the teeming army of un-employed youths in the country to take to agriculture, government should make access to loans meant for agriculture easier while large scale farming powered by mechanized infrastructures should be the central goal.

    Now that all tiers of governments are groaning under severe economic burden is the exact time for us to pay sufficient attention to the agriculture sector as it offers unlimited opportunities for food security as well as job and wealth creation that could accelerate our quest for economic and industrial growth. The nation of Israel is not as fortunate as we are in this perspective. Yet, it is renowned for her rich agro-economy. We could draw lessons from China which bounced back from a great famine that took millions of lives between 1958 and 1961 to become the world’s numero uno in food production. Now that tomatoes and pepper are getting out of the reach of common men, is, indeed, the right time to pay attention to agriculture.

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi

    Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Price of tomato, pepper rises in Lagos markets

    Price of tomato, pepper rises in Lagos markets

    Price of some food items like chilli pepper, tomato and onion has soared by over 100 per cent in markets in Lagos a week to the Christmas celebration.

    A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday showed that a basket of chilli pepper (rodo) is now N25, 000 against N12,000 it sold last week.

    A big basket of tomato, which previously ranged between N8, 000 and N11, 000, now sells for between N13, 000 and N17, 000.

    A medium-size basket of fresh pepper (tatashe) now sells for N12, 000, from N8, 000, while a jute bag of onions cost N35, 000 from the N25, 000 last week.

    Traders attributed climate change, lingering fuel scarcity and insecurity in the North as factors for the price increase.

    Mr. Femi Odusanya, the Spokesman for Mile 12 Perishable Food Traders Association, said that the climate change had adversely affected the growth of farm produce.

    “Farmers are complaining because the climate change has affected the development process of the crops.

    “Harvest that ought to have started now will be delayed till January.

    “We have few trucks bringing produce to the market, which is why there are complaints of scarcity of pepper in some areas.”

    He said that consumers would continue to spend more on these condiments till the situation improved.

    “Families that spent N500 on pepper for their stew before should be ready to spend N1000 on the same quantity.”

    Odusanya urged the government to invest in agriculture by improving the storage capacity of farmers to boost the food supplies in the country.

    Mr. Muftua Alli, the Vice-President, Iddo Market Association, said that the fuel scarcity had reduced the numbers of trucks that were coming to the market.

    Alli said that insecurity in the North-East had forced many farmers to migrate, while the remaining few were being discouraged due to losses from market supply hitches.

    He advised government to address the fuel scarcity before it crippled the economy.

  • ‘Nigeria spends N16b yearly importing tomatoes’

    ‘Nigeria spends N16b yearly importing tomatoes’

    The Federal Government yesterday said Nigeria spends N16 billion yearly on importing tomatoes.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, who puts the country’s domestic demand for tomatoes at 2.3 million tonnes, said  the country only produces 1.8 million tonnes yearly.

    Echono, who spoke at a workshop on “Development and application of post-harvest handling model for horticural Crops” in Abuja, added that 750, 000 tonnes of tomatoes is lost to post-harvest.

    He said: “Horticultural crops, because of their delicate nature face tremendous post-harvest challenges. In Nigeria, specifically, tomatoes has the highest priorities with domestic demand of 2.3 million tonnes of fresh production annually, national production of 1.8 million tonnes, waste of over 750, 000 tonnes and an import bill of N16 billion to make up for shortfall in local production.

    “Post-harvest losses have been estimated to range between five and 20 per cent for grains; 20 per cent for fish and as high as between 50 and 60 per cent for tubers, fruits and vegetables.”

    Mr. Echono, who was represented by the Director, Agribusiness and Market Development, Engr. Jatto Ohiare, said N717 million is spent by the country in importing citrus.

    Echono said the horticultural sector is faced with problem of processing and post-harvest handling, adding that 1.53 million tonnes of citrus production is lost yearly.

    He added that government is working with private sector to tackle post-harvest challenges.

    He said: “Citrus has national production of 3.48 million tonnes, contributing about 29.71 per cent of the world’s production and 81.93 per cent of Africa’s total output. However, 1.53 million tonnes of citrus production is lost annually as waste while an annual import of N717 million has been recorded.

    “The government of Nigeria among other activities and in partnership with the private sector is tackling this through the establishment of the Staple Crop Processing Zones where horticultural crops processing plants are being built and associated clusters of producers identified and assisted with necessary inputs/infrastructures.

    “The establishment of two export crop handling, preservation and conditioning centres.”

  • How tomatoes can create 6.9 million jobs yearly, by CEO

    How tomatoes can create 6.9 million jobs yearly, by CEO

    THE tomato industry has the capacity to create 6.9 million jobs per annum if its potentials are harnessed through government’s support and favourable policies, the Chief Executive Officer of Vegefresh Company Ltd, Mr. Samuel Samuel, said yesterday.

    The massive unemployment can be tackled if government offers necessary support for the tomato industry in Nigeria, he added.

    Samuel explained that the per capital consumption of tomatoes in the country is 0.012 metric tonnes.

    With the nation’s estimated 160 million population, this translates to 1.92 million metric tonnes per annum, Samuel said.

    This, he said, is based on the assumption that an average family consumes 5kg tomatoes per month.

    With the 1.92 million metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes produced in the country and the 72, 000 metric tonnes of processed tomatoes imported, he said the current consumption rate of tomatoes in the country stands at 2.3million metric tonnes per annum.

    With a metric tonne of tomatoes capable of creating at least three jobs through the value chain, Samuel said the consumption rate will conveniently generate 6.9 million jobs for the nation’s army of unemployed youths per annum.

    He said: “These are direct and indirect jobs that can be created every year without fail. As long as people consume tomatoes, these jobs will always be there.”

    He, however, said this would only be possible if government supports the industry with incentives and policies that will encourage local production.

    Criticizing the current importation of 72,000 metric tonnes to augument local production as damaging, Samuel said the nation loses N11.5 billion to the practice every year.

    “This is something we have no business doing at all because we “have local sufficiency and can even become local net exporter if we address the issue of waste in the commodity production and processing,” he explained.

    The export, Samuel added, will generate another N30billion for the nation.

    He appealed to government to fast track businesses processes and engage local investors in the sector.

    He claimed that this is cheaper than sourcing for new foreign investors who will require not less than two to three years to build plants before commencement of production.

    “What government should do is to identify and support local investors already in the sector. They know the terrains and environment.

    “If they have invested in the industry for five years with track records, they should be supported,” Samuel added.

    He said such support should focus on increasing local capacity and easing excess charges placed on tomato growers and processors.

    In specific terms, Samuel said government should place zero import duty on raw materials such as tin paste, powders and chemicals to boost local production and packaging of processed tomatoes.

    He also called for immediate ban on importation of tin tomatoes “because we have the capacity to produce it ourselves.”

  • Health benefits of tomatoes

    A tomato is the fruit of the tomato plant that helps the body in various ways:

     

    Tomatoes help lower cholesterol

    Since a tomato has 0 grams of cholesterol, it doesn’t add cholesterol to the diet. Plus, a cup of fresh tomato provides 9% of the DV for fiber, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels. Tomatoes are also a good source of niacin (vitamin B3), which has been used for years as a safe way to lower high cholesterol levels.

     

    It reduce the risk of heart disease

    Tomatoes are a very good source of potassium. Diets rich in potassium have been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Vitamin B6 and folate, each present in tomatoes in good amounts, are both needed by the body to convert a potentially dangerous chemical called homocysteine into other, benign molecules.

     

    It help lower blood pressure

    In clinical research conducted by Dr. Esther Paran, M.D. at Ben Gurion University (Beersheva, Israel), tomatoes were linked with a significant drop in blood pressure. After 8 weeks, ongoing tracking of daily tomato ingestion (in the form of lycopene complex – a tomato extract) showed a drop in both the blood pressure top number (systolic) by 10 points and the bottom number (diastolic) by 4 points.

     

    It provide antioxidant protection from cell damage

    Antioxidants travel through the body, neutralizing dangerous free radicals that could otherwise damage cells and cell membranes. Free radicals escalate the progression or severity of atherosclerosis, diabetic complications, asthma, and colon cancer. High intakes of lycopene have been shown to help reduce the risk or severity of all of these illnesses.

     

    Tomatoes fight cancer and protect the prostate

    Studies show that eating tomatoes reduce the risk of many cancers, and prostate cancer in particular. In study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, animals on an energy-restricted, tomato-based diet showed a 32% drop in their risk of dying from prostate cancer. Credit goes to antioxidant lycopene working together with other phytonutrient compounds in tomatoes.

     

    Tomato help keep internal systems working well and help regulate blood sugar

    Tomatoes are a good source of chromium, which has been shown to help diabetic patients keep their blood sugar levels under control.

     

    It reduce migraines

    Tomatoes are a good source of riboflavin, which has been shown to be helpful for reducing the frequency of migraine attacks.

     

    It boost immunity

    Tomatoes have been credited by experts with helping to avoid flu and colds, especially for males. According to the medical community, these common illnesses are widely believed to be rooted in carotenoid deficiencies, including low amounts of lycopene and beta carotene in a patient’s system. Drinking tomato juices assists in building defenses against colds and flu.

     

    Tomato protect the skin, bones, and eyes

    Researchers at the University of Dusseldorf (Germany) observed subjects who consumed tomato paste for a minimum of 10 weeks. Absorption of UV rays was 40% lower than subjects in the control group, showing lycopene in tomatoes works as a natural sunscreen and provide protection against UV rays.

     

    It strengthen bones

    A serving of tomatoes provide 18% the daily value for vitamin K, which promotes bone health. Vitamin K activates osteocalcin, the major non-collagen protein in bone. Osteocalcin mineralizes calcium molecules inside of the bone. In other words, vitamin K in tomatoes helps osteocalcin do its work to harden calcium and make bones strong.

    Source: TomatoDirt.com.