Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
The management of TechnoServe has revealed that 45,000 small hold tomato farmers from Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna and Plateau States will receive assistance on improved inputs and technologies that are designed to positively impact on farm produce while addressing post-harvest loses.
The Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, Mr. Larry Umunna, said in Kano weekend during the Nigeria tomato investment roundtable meeting with the theme “Expanding pathways for investment in the tomato value chain”.
He added that as a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty, the project will attempt to link small scale tomato farmers to information, capital, and markets in order to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.
According to him, the time has come for tomato farmers in these five states to start benefiting from the fruit of their labour, adding that it is also time to collaborate with the private sector and relevant governmental bodies to build a competitive and sustainable business around agriculture in general and tomato in particular through the attainment of 20 per cent post-harvest losses reduction.
Similarly, in a paper titled “Investment opportunities in the tomato industry” presented by Dr. Muhammad Sagagi, he said there is a need for total adherence to value chain components for effective result.
According to him, for tomato value chain to be fully effective, there is a need for the establishment of about 124 small holder tomato processing plants.
The roundtable meeting was attended by stakeholders in the tomato producing sector as well as farmers across the benefiting states.
