Way out of wasting tomatoes in Nigeria

It is also disheartening to realise that Nigeria tops in importation of tomato paste from neighbouring African countries.Effort towards addressing this challenge, by taking full advantage of tomato production, informed a World Bank Group initiative in partnership with Dansa and DFID.To streamline the initiative, stakeholders in the private sector and agencies involved in the tomato […]

It is also disheartening to realise that Nigeria tops in importation of tomato paste from neighbouring African countries.
Effort towards addressing this challenge, by taking full advantage of tomato production, informed a World Bank Group initiative in partnership with Dansa and DFID.
To streamline the initiative, stakeholders in the private sector and agencies involved in the tomato initiative convened at a workshop in Kano to work our modalities to improve market for one of Nigeria’s most valuable agriculture exports, tomatoes.  
At a two-day workshop, various stakeholders in the industry explored ways to develop the tomato value chain in Nigeria with plans to unlock financial investments in production, processing, packaging and distribution; improve primary handling operations from farm operations to processing centres; and improve and expand support services like structuring farmers organisations, improving their technical and managerial skills, extension and training, storage and transportation.
Alhaji Sani Dangote, President, Dansa Holdings, said: “A viable tomato industry is one that has consistent supply,  minimal waste, adequate support systems for farmers, favourable policies, and a robust and vibrant value chain. As we partner with the various stakeholders in the industry during this event, we hope to pull all the pieces together and unlock the full potential of the tomato industry; that way, we would reduce Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imports and boost agriculture in the country.”
Richard Ogundele, Intervention Manager for DFID funded GEMS4 Project, explains: “We are working with partners to unlock financial investments in various operations – tomato production, tomato processing, tomato packaging and tomato distribution, improving primary handling operations – fresh produce packing house models, returnable plastic crate rental models, expansion of cold chain services for transport and storage and capacity building in good handling practices for fresh produce.”
“Food security is a global priority and Nigeria is positioned to play an important role in that,” said El-HadjAdamaToure, World Bank Group Lead Agriculture Economist for Nigeria.