Tomato farmers lose N200m to wind in Badagry

Tomato farmers in Dadi Louis community, an island in Iworo,  Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Badagry division of Lagos State, on Wednesday said they lost over N200m to strong wind that affected their farms between March and June, this year.

Mr Tiamiyu Afeez, Chairman,  Itesiwaju Cooperative Multipurpose Society, the farmers’ co-operative society, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry.

Afeez said they had been producing tomatoes on the Island for over 20 years, planting on more than 35 acres of land.

“We always plant tomatoes in two seasons, that is from March to June is first season and from July, August and September is another season in a year.

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“At the beginning of the season, all of us borrowed over N100m from banks, and individuals to plant tomatoes on over 35 acres of land.

“Under normal circumstances, we pay back with half of the money collected; if you collect two million naira, you will pay back three million naira at the end of the season. So, we make N200 million every season, from which we settle our loans.

“In March, we started planting for the first season, but around May , the wind came and  destroyed all we planted, for the season.

“The wind destroyed everything on our farms and I can tell you that we lost over N200 million to that problem,” he said.

Afeez said many farmers had to sell their personal belongings and properties to remain in business.

“I had to sell my vehicle to be able to start planting this time around.

“We had  to go back to banks and others we are owing to beg  them to extend the time for repayment of our loans. They agreed because they knew what happened to us,” he said.