tomato |
The
Federal Government has announced the new policy for tomato aimed at
reducing N52 billion spent on the annual importation of 150, 000 metric
tons of tomato concentrate through the neighbouring countries into
Nigeria.
The
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), Okechukwu Enelamah
who announced the new policy at a media parley yesterday in Abuja,
informed that the policy was aimed at promoting local production of
fresh tomato fruit required for fresh fruit consumption and processing
and also increase local production of tomato concentrate and reduce
post-harvest losses.
Enelamah, said the policy was expected to create at least 60,000 additional jobs in fresh fruits production and processing.
According
to the minister, the policy restricts the importation of tomato
concentrates to the seaports to address the abuse of the ECOWAS Trade
Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), stops the importation of tomatoes
preserved otherwise by vinegar or acetic acid; and increases the tariff
on tomato concentrate to 50 per cent with an additional levy of $1,500
per metric ton.
Nigeria imports an average of 150,000
metric tons of tomato concentrate per annum valued at $170million mostly
due to inadequacy in capacity to produce tomato concentrate. Current
demand for fresh tomato fruits is estimated at about 2.45million metric
tons per annum while the country produces only about 1.8million Metric
tonnes per annum.
The minister said the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) approved the policy and the implementation of
certain extraordinary price-based measures to safeguard the balance of
payments, under the condition of recession.
Implementation of the new policy is expected to commence from May 7, 2017.
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