‘Nigeria’s Annual Tomato Imports Gulp $1.5bn’

The Director General
and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim, has revealed that Nigeria spends around $1.5 billion annually on tomato products importation from China and other parts of the world.
In a release obtained by our correspondent in Port Harcourt, the DG, who was represented by a consultant with RMRDC, Dr. Usman Argungu Hassan, disclosed recently while addressing farmers in Lafia, Nassarawa State that such imports were unsustainable following the economic downturn befalling the country.
Ibrahim noted that the country can reverse the trend with the introduction of improved seeds that yield more in dry season farming.
He added that the essence introducing the improved seeds was to boost its production in the country.
Meanwhile, to address the problem of acute shortage of tomato vegetables and boost Nigeria’s foreign currency earning the council has introduced improved and certified high yielding tomato seeds to various growers associations in the country.
“In Nigeria in spite of all the comparative advantage the country has in all-year-round tomato production, we are still largely dependent on importation of tomato paste and other tomato products from China and other exporting countries which is unacceptable,” he said.
According to Ibrahim, the council has developed a robust monitoring and evaluating plan in conjunction with Nassarawa State Government to ensure higher productivity in crop production.
Earlier, while welcoming the DG to the event, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Nassarawa State, Mr Naphthali Dachor commended the council for researching and improving the tomoto seed which is reportedly resistant to diseases and pests.
He advised farmers in the state to go into dry season farming using irrigation technique for increased yield disclosing that during dry season, crops like tomato yield, twice as much as it does during the rainy season.

Vehicle loaded with cassava being transported to the market in Nasarawa State recently