Windfall for tomato farmers as prices rise 100 percent

Fildah Gwati

IN a typical case of common mismatches between demand and supply at fresh produce markets, the current soaring demand for tomatoes against a depressed supply pattern has triggered a 100 percent surge in prices from an average of US$14 to US$28 per sandak, leaving farmers drooling at the growing prospects of a windfall.

This was revealed by Knowledge Transfer Africa (KTA) chief executive officer Dr Charles Dhewa recently while giving an update on trading activities at the markets.

“The demand for tomatoes was higher than supply in October with prices ranging from US$10 to US$18 per Sandak at the beginning of the month rising to around US$28 currently,” he said.

A sandak of tomatoes weighs an average of 30kg.

The decline in supplies is a result of challenges in accessing irrigation water by some farmers amid reports that water levels in wells from which they draw the precious input have dropped significantly.

“It has become common for tomato prices to increase at the beginning of October in response to water shortages in high producing areas like Mutoko, Murewa, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe and Macheke districts during this period and preceding month. Water sources tend to run dry end of August, September and October affecting tomato production, hence the ensuing shortages,” Dr Dhewa added.

The recent unprecedented surge in the demand for tomatoes against inelastic supply led to significant changes in the local tomato market with the resultant effect of prices increasing.

Dr Dhewa said last year the increased demand for tomatoes was counteracted by increased exports of the product to Zimbabwe by traders from the Soweto market in Lusaka, Zambia.

“However, this did not happen this year as consumers noted that tomatoes from Zambia tend to be too watery and spoil quickly. The prevailing high prices provide an incentive for local farmers to expand tomato production with improved supply expected in the coming months,” said KTA boss.

“Farmers are now faced with the task of meeting the growing demand without compromising the quality of the fruit and the environment. A related reason for tomato shortages is that many farmers start switching attention to preparations for summer field crops in October,” he added.

Many farmers are venturing into tomato production under greenhouses to counteract the negative impact of climate change.

The 2022/23 summer season second round crop, livestock and fisheries assessment (CLAFA 2) report revealed that tomato production increased by 19 percent from 281 610 tonnes in the 2021/22 season to 336 300 tonnes in the 2022/23 period.

Area under production slightly increased seven percent from 10 430 to 11 210 hectares with productivity rising 11 percent from 27 to 30 tonnes per hectare, said the report.

The Presidential Rural Development Programme has distributed 2 799 819 vegetable combos to 2 799 819 households across the country representing 80 percent of the 3 500 000 earmarked. The vegetable combo comprises one gramme each of tomato, onion, carrot, rape and cabbage, the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services weekly report dated October 2 revealed.