Millions lost as Gombe tomato farmers struggle with storage capacity

Chima Azubuike writes about the harsh reality faced by tomato and pepper farmers in Bula community in Gombe State due to lack of storage facilities, which not only threatens their income but also casts a long shadow over Nigeria’s agricultural sector

Bread rolla small agricultural centre situated in the vast plains of Akko Local Government Area of ​​Gombe State, famous for its vast fields of tomatoes and peppers.

Here, under the scorching sun, farmers work hard, growing crops that promise high profits but come with great challenges.

Among these farmers is 35-year-old Aliyu Maikudi, a man who, despite his success, still struggles with a problem that undermines the basis of his livelihood: a lack of adequate storage facilities.

The vibrant colors of Buli’s fields, where rows of tomatoes glow red and peppers shimmer green in the sunlight, mask a more disturbing reality – massive harvest losses

The community is a key supplier of vegetables to major cities across Nigeria, but a lack of essential infrastructure such as storage facilities threatens to turn potential millions of dollars into losses overnight.

Farmer’s Journey

Aliyu Maikudi, a father of eight children and husband of two wives, is one of the wealthiest farmers in Bula.

His journey began over a decade ago and through perseverance and hard work, he now earns up to N7 million annually from his tomato and pepper fields.

His worn hands, showing signs of years of tilling the soil, are a testament to the dedication that farming in Bula requires.

“I have been growing tomatoes for over 10 years,” Maikudi said. “The business is very profitable. We chose to grow tomatoes and peppers because we saw the benefits and there are huge profits to be made from it.”

The profitability is undeniable, but for farmers like Maikudi, there’s always a catch. Behind the apparent success lies a fragile system that can break down as the seasons change.

Without proper storage, much of a crop is left at the mercy of time and weather, forcing farmers to sell at very low prices or risk destroying their hard-earned crops.

Overcoming adversity

The road to success for Maikudi and his fellow farmers was full of challenges.

Fertiliser costs, which were once around N10,000 per bag, have skyrocketed to N50,000, reducing profits and putting many small farmers at risk of financial ruin.

Still, Maikudi continued operating, carefully balancing expenses and navigating a volatile agricultural market.

“If you spend about N1 million on fertilizers and other expenses such as tillage, transplanting and farming, the total cost will be about N1.5 million,” Maikudi explained.

“But when you sell the product, you can earn up to N10m. After deducting what you spent earlier, you end up with a profit of about N7m.”

His ability to diversify by planting a mix of tomatoes, peppers, chillies and Scotch bonnet peppers proved key to his resilience.

“All these vegetables do well here, especially when the weather is nice,” he revealed, although rising costs still haunt him.

“Without government intervention, many of us could be forced to close our businesses.”

Buli’s agricultural footprint

Bula’s strategic location has made it a key supplier of tomatoes and peppers to cities like Kano, Abuja, Jos, Maiduguri, Akure and Lagos.

On a typical Saturday evening, the area bustles with activity as traders load trucks with produce destined for markets across the country.

The scene exudes energy and hope, but at the same time it is filled with the specter of impending loss if appropriate data storage solutions are not taken.

Maikudi, pointing to a truck full of fresh tomatoes, proudly said: “I load goods worth over N1 million every day. As of now, this truck is going to Kano while others have already gone to Jos, Maiduguri, Akure and Lagos.”

Despite these successes, the lack of adequate storage facilities continues to cast a shadow over the industry. Without them, most of the community’s products spoil before they reach market, reducing profits and increasing waste.

Urgent need for storage solutions

For Maikudi and his peers, the rainy season is especially unforgiving. When supply of tomatoes and peppers exceeds demand, prices plummet, and without proper storage, farmers are forced to sell their crops at discount prices or let them rot in the fields.

As chairman of the Bula Vegetable Growers Association, Maikudi has openly spoken about the need for government intervention.

“The government should set up mini-processing factories to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses,” he appealed.

He said such facilities would centralize marketing efforts and allow farmers to store their produce for up to three months, giving them the flexibility to sell when prices are more favorable.

A community in need of infrastructure

In addition to the immediate problem of storage, Bula faces a wider infrastructure deficit. A standard market or agricultural service center is conspicuously absent in a community that plays such a key role in Nigeria’s agricultural economy.

Kasim Mohammed, Yerima Bula, echoed Maikudi’s call for investments.

“Youth can be encouraged to take up farming by providing fertilisers at affordable prices,” Mohammed said.

“But beyond that, we need storage facilities to prevent waste. We also need a standard market where we can sell our produce and agricultural service centers that will provide us with the tools and equipment we need for large-scale farming.”

He noted that Gombe State’s fertile soil is a valuable resource but its potential remains largely untapped due to lack of adequate investment in infrastructure.

The potential of the agricultural industry

The state ranks second after Kano in tomato production, with an annual production of 50,000 tonnes.

Communities like Bula, Kwadon, Dadin-Kowa and Kumo contribute to this impressive number, but they face the same systemic problems – the most important of which is the lack of storage capacity.

The collapse of the Manto tomato processing factory in 2003 only exacerbated the problem.

The factory, which was once a key player in the Nigerian tomato industry, has since closed, leaving a void that no successive government has been able to fill.

Call for investment

Despite the lucrative nature of tomato farming, it remains a risky business. Crop diseases, pests and unpredictable market prices are a constant threat. While farmers like Maikudi can still make a profit, they are fully aware that without the right support, their livelihoods can disappear as quickly as a season’s worth of rotten tomatoes.

Government officials such as the Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Barnabas Malle, Sunday PUNCH Scientists have admitted that the problem exists, but they have not yet kept their promises.

“The delivery of refrigeration equipment will redefine the tomato industry in the state,” he admitted.

But for Maikudi, hope can only be reborn if there is immediate investment in storage solutions and wider agricultural infrastructure.