Auchi residents decry high cost of tomatoes

Some residents of Auchi and its environs have decried the high cost of tomatoes in the area.Some of them told newsmen that the situation had increased their hardship and made life more difficult for them.According to them, a basket of the variety of tomatoes, popularly known as ``Hausa tomatoes'', which was sold at N3, 000 about a month ago, is now being sold at N16, 000.At Uchi market, four small seeds of tomato now sell at N100, while six to seven medium-sized tomatoes now cost between N150 and N200.It was also revealed that the prohibitive cost of tomatoes has forced many residents to do without tomatoes when preparing meals, while some tomatoes' sellers have abandoned the business.A housewife, Mrs Nana Abdul, who did not blame anybody for the high cost of tomatoes, nonetheless, described the situation as ``pathetic', particularly in view of the prevailing economic downturn in the country.``If one spends so much in buying tomatoes, which is just an item in a meal's preparation, how then can you afford other items'' she asked.Faith Oise, another resident of Auchi, said that the high cost of tomatoes had compelled her to cook meals that required less tomatoes ``and if I must use tomatoes for my food, I now buy the one in tin cans.
Click here to read full news..