Institute collaborates Katsina on processing of tomato

The National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria has set to collaborate with Katsina state government to establish a tomato processing factory that would be producing product free of additives. A statement issued by the institute’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Bala yesterday said that Katsina state was to provide N35 million for the project not N500 million as quoted […]

The National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria has set to collaborate with Katsina state government to establish a tomato processing factory that would be producing product free of additives.

A statement issued by the institute’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Bala yesterday said that Katsina state was to provide N35 million for the project not N500 million as quoted in some sections of the media.

He said: “The institute has a strong and smooth collaboration with the Katsina state government. In the past we had established first Neem organic fertilizer and Bio-pesticide production plant. We are now on the verge of establishing Kenaf/Jute and tomato procession factories.

“NARICT and the state government agreed on N35 million project; N20 million for building and N15 million for machineries as at March 2016, but due to the current economic situation in the country and hike in prices, we have already written to the state government for a review. Therefore, the report in some sections of the media that we had received the sum of N500 million is not accurate.”

He said the importance of the projects was for Nigerians to be consuming 100 per cent indigenous tomatoes unlike imported tomato paste that are 20 per cent tomato and 80 per cent additives.

The Kenaf Project, according to him, would provide jute and kenaf sacks for agricultural sector and this would ensure acceptability of Nigeria agro-produce all over the world.