Northern traders have lamented a massive loss in revenue from sales of onion and tomato.
The fall in revenue is blamed on the blockade of farm produce to the south by northern farmers under the auspices of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN).
During the blockade, the prices of crops such as tomatoes and onions dropped astronomically making traders suffer huge losses.
While an average of about 35 to 40 trucks of tomatoes is loaded to the south daily, half a truck has not been loaded in the last five days.
According to a tomato marketer in the state, Malam Ibrahim Ghali Dumaji, contrary to what was obtainable a basket of the produce is sold at N850 while the basket itself is sold at N750 and as such pushing the cost of a basket of tomato to N1600.
Dumaji lamented: “The union’s recent strike and the current glut has thrown tomato farmers, marketers and other perishable farmers in Kano State into a serious crisis as many farmers abandoned their farms, awaiting a miracle.
“This is a serious challenge taking into consideration the cost of production and other expenses incurred during the planting and harvesting processes.”
Recall that northern traders had days back put forward an adamant stance in response to calls for them to allow farm produce get to the southwestern part of Nigeria.
According to the traders, the blockade was a way of expressing anger over the news of their kinsmen being harassed and allegedly killed in the southwest.
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