No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Careers
en English
en Englishfr Français
Support Us
Mimi Mefo Info
  • Cameroon
  • Africa
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Business
  • Education
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Sport
  • Cameroon
  • Africa
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Business
  • Education
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Sport
No Result
View All Result
Mimi Mefo Info
English | Français
No Result
View All Result

Tomato farmers record huge financial losses due to COVID-19

Mimi Mefo Info by Mimi Mefo Info
July 3, 2020
Reading Time: 3 min
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Tomato farmers in Cameroon are reported to be currently witnessing huge financial losses this harvesting season as a result of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The abundance of tomatoes on the market has brought down the price of a basket of tomatoes from 6000 FCFA to 2000 FCFA. Sometimes, the price in some markets go as low as 1000 FCFA .

In an attempt to recover what is left, some farmers freely deliver a basket of tomatoes to homes at the meager cost of 1000 FCFA.

Many are attributing this business hazard to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that is dealing a huge blow on the economy.

After Cameroon recorded the first confirmed cases on March 6, new infections soon spiraled to worrisome proportions .

In order to contain the spread of the virus, government closed its borders and imposed sweeping preventive measures.

This naturally had a heavy toll on the economy .

Social distancing came along with food shortages, as some food processing companies went on recess, transportation of farm produce to markets became a herculean task.

To make matters worse, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria , which hitherto were lucrative destinations for farm produce from Cameroon, also shut their borders to limit the importation of the virus into the country. Since then, high rates of infection have forced the government of Cameroon , to keep the borders closed.

This has inevitably triggered an economic downturn in Cameroon, with farmers featuring amongst those paying a high price for government’s well-meaning efforts to “Flatten the Curve”.

As the harvesting season approached, the first harvests of tomatoes were greeted with unusually poor sales.

A basket of tomatoes sold at between 3000-4000 in markets across the country.

But as more farmers began to harvest, it became difficult to sell a basket of fresh tomatoes for more than 2500FCFA.

The standard price for a basket of tomatoes ranges between 1500-2000 frs.

The abundance of tomatoes has forced some farmers to abandon left over baskets of the highly-consumed fruits in markets .

The closure of borders by Gabon, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea is at the heart of this problem.

Over the years, farmers often sold truck loads of fresh tomatoes in these countries with huge gains, but now, it has become absolutely impossible.

Accordingly, farmers have no choice than to sell their produce at a give-away price, exclusively within the country.

Most of these farmers who for the most part took loans from banks and other financial institutions to invest in their farms , are expected to repay their loans.

Unfortunately, they are highly indebted, and business is limping.

The prevailing situation is a major setback to second generation agriculture prescribed by President Biya as a reliable means to generate jobs, feed the population and boost exportation .

Sadly, a good number of tomato farmers are not far from becoming jobless.

Nonetheless, agriculture remains the cornerstone and livewire on which the Cameroonian economy has counted on since independence.

In recent years, there has been a multiplicity of agricultural programmes and projects streamlined to suit the exigencies of the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) which remains the guideline to achieve the country’s 2035 vision.

By Momoh Dero in Yaounde

Mimi Mefo Info

You can help support our work through the link below
Share1163TweetSendShare
Previous Post

Uncertainty looms over fate of Cameroonians trapped in Dubai

Next Post

After UN call, Government in ceasefire negotiation with separatist fighters

Related Posts

Betts Organic: Your Best Bets for Organic Skincare
Business

Betts Organic: Your Best Bets for Organic Skincare

January 15, 2021
Business

24-years-old IDP offers ‘mobile home services’ to fight unemployment

January 15, 2021
Traders stranded in Ekok call for help
Business

Traders stranded in Ekok call for help

December 23, 2020
Business

Express Exchange accountant allegedly dupes client of FCFA 668,000

December 13, 2020
Economie: Le port de kribi accueille sa 1000è escale
Business

Economie: Le port de kribi accueille sa 1000è escale

November 20, 2020
Business

Yaounde: Hundreds protest at Mekit Invest building, demand refund of investments

November 12, 2020
You can help support our work via the link below

Recommended

“President Paul Biya has won the war against separatists” – Paul Atanga Nji

“President Paul Biya has won the war against separatists” – Paul Atanga Nji

22 mins ago
Cameroon: Wild speculations over announced visit of Vatican envoy

Cameroon: Wild speculations over announced visit of Vatican envoy

2 hours ago
Spectators “manhandle” Japoma Stadium

Spectators “manhandle” Japoma Stadium

4 hours ago
Police extortion in Buea: who is Olivier Ismael Ndzie Matti?

Police extortion in Buea: who is Olivier Ismael Ndzie Matti?

7 hours ago

Popular News

  • Death of Petra Nji under unclear circumstances still raising dust

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Suspected Amba boys kill six, several injured near Santa

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mautu massacre victims now known

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Joe Biden presidency: Implications for Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

You can help support our work via the link below

Category

  • Affairs
  • Africa
  • Afrique
  • Agriculture
  • Business
  • Cameroon
  • Cameroun
  • Culture
  • Développement
  • Economie
  • ECONOMY
  • Editor's Picks
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Environnement
  • Food
  • Français
  • French
  • Gouvernance
  • Health
  • Human Interest/Society
  • Human Rights
  • HUMANITAIRE
  • Insécurité
  • Interviews
  • Judiciary
  • Justice
  • Lifestyle
  • Live Update
  • News
  • News Roundups
  • Opinion
  • Other
  • Politics
  • Politique
  • Santé
  • Science
  • Security
  • Société
  • Sport
  • Tech
  • Tourisme
  • Transport
  • Travel
  • Voyage
  • World

Important Links

  • Term of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us

Copyright © 2020 Mimi Mefo Info Ltd. - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Food

Copyright © 2020 Mimi Mefo Info Ltd. - All Rights Reserved.

en English
en Englishfr Français
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
pixel