Climate Change Threatens Nigeria’s Tomato Value Chain, Research Fellow Warns

Originally published in The Fact Finder by Haliru Hamza, July 1, 2026

A Research Fellow at the Future Africa Research and Leadership Fellowship (FAR-LeaF), Dr Ololade Latifat Abdulrahman, has described tomato as more than just an agricultural crop, saying it remains a critical source of income, nutrition and employment for millions of Nigerians.

Dr Abdulrahman made the remarks during a Capacity Training Workshop on Climate Adaptation for Tomato Value Chain Actors in North-West Nigeria, held at the NAERLS Ultra-Modern Hall in Zaria. She noted that beyond its importance as a staple food, the tomato contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economy and agro-industrial development.

She, however, expressed concern that stakeholders across the tomato value chain are increasingly facing the adverse effects of climate change.

According to her, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, pest and disease outbreaks, and significant post-harvest losses continue to threaten agricultural productivity, food security, and household incomes. “The tomato value chain is a complex system involving multiple actors, all of whom are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These challenges are affecting their livelihoods and reducing the resilience of the sector,” she said.

Dr Abdulrahman stressed the need to strengthen climate adaptation strategies across the tomato value chain to promote sustainable processing hubs, stimulate agribusiness growth and create employment opportunities. She said improving the adaptive capacity of farmers, processors, marketers and other stakeholders would help build a more resilient and competitive tomato industry capable of enhancing food security and driving economic development.

“As a researcher committed to climate-smart agriculture and sustainable rural livelihoods, I recognise that addressing these challenges requires practical, evidence-based solutions that will strengthen resilience across the tomato value chain,” she added. The research fellow explained that the capacity-building workshop forms part of a broader research project titled “Climate Vulnerability and Adaptive Capacity of Tomato Value Chain Actors,” which seeks to assess the impact of climate change on various stakeholders in the tomato value chain and identify practical adaptation strategies to improve their productivity, resilience and livelihoods.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Prof. Sani Yusuf, urged participants to actively engage in the training to maximise the knowledge and skills being imparted. Represented by Engr. Aminu Fage, the Executive Director, said the workshop was timely, expressing confidence that the knowledge gained would add value to the activities of tomato value chain actors and contribute to increased production and improved productivity across the sector.