Tomato: Farmers Crave Standard Storage Facility

Tomato

Farmers under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the State of Osun have advised the Federal Government to provide standard storage facilities for tomato during the period of harvest.


Giving this advice in Osogbo, the State capital, Mr. Afolabi Kayode, the President of the Association said the step would help stern scarcity, drudgery and wastage associated with the commodity.

He said government should also provide financial assistance to farmers to enable them cultivate large farmlands to boost tomato production. “Provision of irrigation by the government to the farmers is very crucial during the drought season. Lack of rainfall, is generally affecting the level of production in the country.”

Mr. Kayode added that tomato farming thrives more in the North due to the favorable climate condition for the crop and availability of irrigation.

“If government can provide irrigation as an alternative for rain water, tomato production would be implored upon in the South-West and scarcity of the produce would be eliminated”, he concluded.

It would be recalled that the scarcity of tomatoes was allegedly caused by a pest attack popularly called Tuta absoluta also known as tomato Ebola which first reared its ugly head in the Northern part of Nigeria.