There are serious indications that succour has come for the once comatose tomato industry, which has been one of the most neglected value-chains in the agricultural sub-sector of the Nigerian economy.

Reason: Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria have just elected their new national executives, who will steer the ship of the association for the next four years.

The newly elected President of the association is now Alhaji Abdullahi Ringim, while the newly-elected National Publicity Secretary is the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of AgroNigeria, Mr. Richard-Mark Mbaram.

Speaking during his opening remarks, Ringim said: “For a long time, agriculture has been neglected and Nigeria has remained a net importer of tomato. As at last three years, statistics showed that Nigeria imported $16 billion worth of tomato.

“What people do not even realise is that there is no single tomato processing industry in Nigeria. Wherever you see tomato, either in can or sachet, they are all imported. Most people are of the view that Gino produces tomato in Nigeria, but the fact is that they can tomato, not produce it,” he said.  

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He went further by saying “the only tomato processing company that has the capacity of processing 1200 metric tons per day, is the one being installed in Kano State by the Dangote Group. That also has no canning line, but only processing. The second is our own company in Dadinkowa which has the capacity of producing 600 metric tons, but with a canning line.

“I used the word canning because they hardly take out local tomato to process and sell. All they do is import tomato paste, and then can in Nigeria. Now, this is where our challenge lies, and it is a big challenge for the tomato farmers, either from the Gworonyo or Dadinkowa cultivation stretch, who strive to produce tomato, through thick and thin with little or no governmental support”.

Ringim condemned the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to restrict importers from using the Nigeria Forex market to source funds for importation of some products; saying there are two dimensions to it. The good part, he said, is that it will help those with capacity to produce tomatoes in Nigeria do more, but hinted that with the lack of adequate production, the problem will be compounded because people who import tomatoes through the port or airports will start smuggling them in.

He nevertheless assured members of the association that he will discharge his responsibilities with an open mind, making sure that all members are carried along through consultations with other stakeholders; while reaching out to those outside the country also.

According to him, the government has not technically banned the importation of tomatoes “but it has said that as importers of tomatoes, they are not adding value to the farmers, so they are to access their Forex from the autonomous markets, it is good because it now puts less constraint on our foreign reserves,” he said.

Quickly stepping into his responsibility as the voice and image-maker of the association, Mbaram corroborated the stance of his president by stating that tomato is a very essential food ingredient that is highly consumed by nearly everybody- old and young – and as such, the government should give the sector the necessary support to become self-sufficient in its production and even go a step further to promote its export.

With a reassuring voice that indicates determination to work, he said: “It is all about advocacy, and telling the stories of the realities in the sector. The Executive Secretary of FACAN, Alhaji Akin Gbadamosi applauded the members for their display of maturity and urged that they should cooperate to ensure the revitalization of the sub-sector.