GEMS4 trains dealers on good tomato packaging

GEMS4 is an initiative to teach people in perishable products value chain on how to improve in the proper and hygienic ways of handling perishable produce in the country. Under the initiative, 10 members of the Tomato Sellers Association of Nigeria, Mile 12 market, Lagos recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use […]

GEMS4 is an initiative to teach people in perishable products value chain on how to improve in the proper and hygienic ways of handling perishable produce in the country.
Under the initiative, 10 members of the Tomato Sellers Association of Nigeria, Mile 12 market, Lagos recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use of Good Handling Practices (GHP).
The MoU according to GEMS4 team leader, Arafat Hossain, was informed by the need to improve on the process of handling perishables in Nigeria.
He said the GEMS4 project which is funded by the World Bank and the UK’s Department for International Development is long overdue to be launched at Mile 12 market, Lagos as a major place for perishables.
He stressed the need for proper understanding of all stakeholders in the tomato value chain on the proper handling of the produce.
He said: “It was discovered that about half of the tomatoes produced get damaged between the farm and the selling place, during transit, carriage and even offloading. It also noted that the left over after the damage determine the price of tomatoes in the market,” he said.
Hossain stated that GEMS4 is assigned to reduce the damage of perishable produce in the country because of the volume of damaged tomatoes from where it was produced to the market is about 40 per cent.
This, he said, has resulted into economic loss to both the farmers and the country in terms of deficit from wasted tomatoes.
Hossain said this occurs during transit, adding that “these damages occur due to two different reasons: poor application of goods handling services and poor carriage on transit. Tomatoes are usually packed in wooden baskets known as rafia baskets for stacking one over the other which makes the goods get more damaged when transporting it.”
He stated that the main concept of GEMS4 is to minimise the damage of tomatoes in the markets with the introduction of GHP, and encourage the use of plastic crates.
The GEMS4 team leader explained that the plastic crates are stackable and do not put pressure on the tomatoes during transportation, nor does it damage it when offloading from vehicles.
He said the GHP is a method which trains the farmer and trader to pack, clean, and sort their goods before sales.
Arafat explained that with this current quality of tomatoes in the market, GEMS4, was able to encourage hotels, restaurant and catering services in states to patronise the selected tomato markets in Nigeria instead of importing their goods from South Africa.
Also, the chairman Tomato Sellers Association Mile 12 market, Alhaji Haruna Muhammad, said the concept will add very good value to farmers’ product and market.