Nigeria loses N15 billion annually due to importation of processed tomato
- Nigeria is losing over N15 billion annually to importation of processed tomato
- This is the submission of Alhaji Bello Abubakar
- Abubakar is the deputy director, procurement at the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Alhaji Bello Abubakar
The deputy director, procurement at the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Alhaji Bello Abubakar has revealed that Nigeria is losing over N15 billion annually to importation of processed tomato.
Abubakar made the disclosure yesterday, January 10 during the bidding of 2017 projects, held at NARICT in Basawa, Zaria, Kaduna state, The Nation reports.
READ ALSO: Traders from Chad, Cameroon and Niger rush to Kebbi for rice
He said the projects being bidded for included physical structure of two tomato companies at Jigawa and Yobe states, supply of fabrication (factory equipment) and construction of green house at Jigawa state.
His words: “Nigeria is the leading producer of tomato in Africa and 13th in the world, yet the country is importing over 66 million tonnes of processed tomato, valued at over N15 billion annually, according CBN report.”
Abubakar stated that NARICT had invented and developed tomato processing technology in its effort to reduce the huge amount lost annually from importation of processed tomato
He appealed to governments at all levels, private organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to patronise the product to boost tomato cultivation and improve the production capacity of the institute.
READ ALSO: Nigeria turns to agriculture as recession bites harder
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari had stated that tomato paste processing will be prioritized by the federal government this year as part its strategic implementation plan to become self-sufficient in the product.
The president said it will be an opportunity to generate a large number of agricultural jobs and also add value along the agro-allied chain.
Source: Legit.ng
