Why farmers avoid dry season tomato farming

Dry season tomato farming comes with its set of common stressors, posing significant challenges for farmers across the board. The solutions available, unfortunately, often seem tailored for the big players in the industry, leaving smaller farmers struggling to cope. A popular tomato farmer in Makurdi Nigeria, Wanger Barnabas  while lamenting power and fuel hike issues, in a post late last year on his Facebook page and announcing that he would not be having tomatoes for Christmas; stated: “Farming is a business; you don’t do it to please people. The numbers have to be right if you must make profits. Growing tomatoes to satisfy a section of the crowd at our expense is not business”.

One of the primary hurdles faced by dry season tomato farmers is the consistent supply of water. The options presented for overcoming this challenge, such as using solar pumps or proximity to streams, dams, or rivers, are deemed too expensive for many small-scale farmers, thus discouraging them from all year planting of the plant. Interestingly, the challenges don’t just end there. Pests, flower drop due to intense heat, poor pricing, and the overall high cost of production further exacerbate the difficulties faced during the dry season. Wanger further stated that “… we don’t always find it rosy. Doing business in Nigeria is difficult; making projections is even more difficult, but we are not giving up”.

Reflecting on last year’s attempts at dry season tomato farming, a frustrated farmer on a WhatsApp farmers group said, “Last December marked my third attempt, and I can confidently say it wasn’t worth the effort. We had to go the extra mile, only to encounter the recurring issue of white flies. The heat took a toll on the plants, resulting in a meagre fruit yield. To make matters worse, flooding the market with Hausa tomatoes led to a decline in prices, making it unprofitable for us in the south. I will never do dry season tomato planting again”.

In light of these challenges, the Chief Executive Officer of Polycrops Farm Consults, Owolabi Ayomide offers candid advice to fellow farmers – “Consider other crops instead of tomatoes”. This recommendation from a farmer, who has been into tomato farming for about nine years, stems from the pragmatic understanding that diversification can provide a more sustainable and financially-viable path for farmers in the face of daunting challenges posed by the dry season. Furthermore, as the dry season brings unique stressors to tomato farming, it is crucial to explore and implement affordable solutions that cater to the needs of all farmers, irrespective of their scale of operations. For investors eyeing the agriculture sector, the challenges faced by dry season tomato farming present a unique opportunity for strategic investment.

As demand for tomatoes remains constant, despite seasonal adversities, there is a promising space for innovative solutions and technologies to address water scarcity, pest control, and heat-related issues. Investing in affordable and scalable solutions that cater to the needs of both small and large-scale farmers could yield substantial returns. Moreover, supporting initiatives that promote crop diversification, as suggested by experts, can be a key avenue for investors to explore. By actively engaging in the development and implementation of sustainable practices, investors have the opportunity to, not only contribute to the resilience of tomato farming, but also to foster positive economic and environmental impacts within the agricultural landscape. As farmers struggle not to give up, governments and stakeholders should strive and continue to seek innovative and inclusive approaches in order to ensure the profitability and sustainability of tomato farming for everyone involved.