Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati, [email protected]
The price of tomatoes has skyrocketed on the market as a result of limited supply due to low temperatures, with farmers failing to meet demand.
Market experts have attributed the price increase to low production caused by low temperatures during winter.
Low supply of tomatoes is common during winter, from the end of May to July.
Some suppliers resort to importing, while some middlemen smuggle produce from neighbouring countries, especially Zambia.
Market analyst and Knowledge Transfer Africa chief executive, Dr Charles Dhewa, said Macheke, a major producer and parts of Mutoko, Murehwa and Mhondoro Ngezi, were not producing many tomatoes because of the cold weather. Beatrice has also been affected by frost.
Crops do not grow as fast as they do when it is cold.
Tomatoes are more negatively affected by frost and cold weather.
Consumers have been complaining about the price of tomatoes, with some taking the issue to social media, where they pleaded with the Government to intervene.
“Tomato is the mother of all necessities. When we talk about relishes, very few consumers will eat food without tomatoes.
“This is why its absence, or abundance, or overabundance affects other commodities.“Like in many other years, from the beginning of May to the end of July, tomatoes tend to be very scarce because it is very cold. Low temperatures make it difficult for tomatoes to ripen,” Dr Dhewa said.
He said some farmers were using ethephon, a plant growth regulator that releases ethylene gas to ripen mature-green bananas artificially and ensure their tomatoes ripen early.
“Tomatoes are quite scarce and prices have skyrocketed. In Harare, big crates range from US$35 to US$65 depending on the day. Even in Manicaland, where most of the tomatoes come from, Chibuwe and Nyanyadzi, all those irrigation schemes have tomatoes in low supply.
“Manicaland has more than 17 irrigation schemes, but most of them focus on wheat and sugar beans. Most do not produce winter tomatoes. Prices are actually higher at Sakubva and Chikanga markets,” he said.
Dr Dhewa said a big basket (tswanda/dengu), about 60 kilogrammes, was going for about US$140 while an 8kg wooden box of tomatoes costs around US$8 to US$10.
He said vendors were buying a crate for US$35 to US$40.
“Vendors are charging according to the number of tomatoes, mostly from three to five per dollar. Production is not matching demand every year, but this season the situation is worse.
“Climate change and high production costs have also affected production,” Dr Dhewa said.
He said most farmers, especially small-scale farmers, had challenges producing tomatoes in winter due to limited resources.
“In most cases, tobacco injects some liquidity into the economy, which we also see in the mass market. When tobacco is performing well on the market, the mass markets also move well.
“Some farmers who produce tobacco often invest in horticulture and produce tomatoes, leafy vegetables and others. This year they cannot do that because tobacco was not viable, as it had been in other years,” he said.
Mr Dhewa said although the tomato prices were high, buying power was also really suppressed for some reason.
“Maybe these are macro issues that probably need to be attended to. This year, people have noticed a shift in prices,”
he said.
He said local markets used to be supplemented with imports from nearby countries, but this had not been the case this year.
“Border control teams have strengthened their systems. They now use drones, and this has made it difficult for illegal
imports to enter our markets. This move protects our farmers.
“We need to be producing tomatoes. It is the same story with onions. It has been difficult for traders to smuggle onions from South Africa,” he said.
The supply of tomatoes is expected to start improving at the end of June to the beginning of July.
“We have areas that are not affected by frost in winter and are producing tomatoes, but are overwhelmed by demand and ensure continuous supply throughout the year for maximum profits.
“We sometimes experience an oversupply of tomatoes on the market and farmers incur huge losses. While regional trade is good, it has to be regulated. It is also important for farmers to do market research before they produce if they are to make profits,” he said.
