Dangote meets stakeholders, assures on tomato processing coy

This was disclosed when the World Bank Group in partnership with Dansa and DFID met with the private sector stakeholders at a two-day workshop organised for various stakeholders in the tomato industry with a view to exploring ways to develop the tomato value chain in Nigeria in regards to ways and processes in improving market […]

This was disclosed when the World Bank Group in partnership with Dansa and DFID met with the private sector stakeholders at a two-day workshop organised for various stakeholders in the tomato industry with a view to exploring ways to develop the tomato value chain in Nigeria in regards to ways and processes in improving market for tomatoes as one of Nigeria’s most valuable agriculture exports.
The event was aimed at equipping participants on how to explore the tomato industry and unlocking financial investments in production, processing, packaging and distribution; improved primary handling operations from farm operations to processing centres and support services among other issues.
The supervising Director of Dangote Tomatoes farm in Kadawa, Alhaji Abdulkareem Kaita, stated that the Dansa tomatoes company is at 98% completion stage and that it will commence operation hopefully this year. He added that the company had already given the farmers hybrid seeds that will ensure high yield and bumper harvest.
According to him, farmers have tried the hybrid seeds during this year’s rainy season and the same seeds are on trial this dry season, adding, “we have given the farmers the hybrid seeds that will enhance production and increase yield. With the hybrid seeds already demonstrated during this year’s rainy season, farmers were able to produce about 80 to 100 tonnes per hectare as against the 10 tonnes per hectare they were used to. We have developed demonstration site for them to see and adopt,” said Kaita.
Similarly, President, Dansa Holdings Alhaji Sani Dangote, said a viable tomato industry is one that has consistent supply, minimal waste, adequate support systems for farmers, favorable policies, and a robust and vibrant value chain.
He said the company has partnered with the various stakeholders in the industry and hopes to pull all the pieces together and unlock the full potential of the tomato industry that would reduce Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports and boost agriculture in the country.
Answering reporters’ questions, Intervention Manager for DFID funded Growth and Employment in States Project (GEMS4), Mr. Richard Ogundele, explains that the project has been working with partners to unlock financial investments in various operations in relation to tomato production, tomato processing, tomato packaging and tomato distribution.
He added that, improving primary handling operations, fresh produce packing house models, returnable plastic crate rental models, expansion of cold chain services for transport and storage coupled with capacity building in good handling practices for fresh produce are some of the strategies adopted to encourage tomato production.
Records have shown that though Nigeria is the second largest producer of tomato
in Africa and 13th in the world, up to 50% of the tomatoes produced in the country are lost due to lack of storage and under-developed marketing channels.
One of the farmers at the Kadawa irrigation centre, Malam Ado Danjuma Garun Malam, told our reporter that when the company commences full operation, the problem of tomato glut leading to avoidable wastages will be over.
He said the problem the farmers will have with the company is the price of tomatoes fixed by the company, adding, “we are indeed happy with this company, but I was told that the company will be paying N15 per kilogramme of tomatoes which I believe is unrealistic compared to what we are getting now from the open market. I want to use this medium on behalf of all tomato farmers in this area to urge Dansa to revisit its decision on the price and make amendments,” he pleaded.