NIHORT, lawmaker, train 50 Ondo farmers on tomato production

Tamarauemi Ebimini

In a bid to reduce post-harvest losses and unemployment, the National Institute of Horticultural Research (NIHORT), trained 50 unemployed youths and women, in Ondo state, on value addition in tomato production.

The Director/ Chief Executive Officer, of NIHORT, Dr Mohammed Attanda, said in Akure, the Ondo state capital, that the training was organised to achieve sustainable economic empowerment and growth in the commodity value chain of tomatoes.

Attanda said that tomato is capable of impacting positively the economic development of Nigeria.

The training was organised in partnership with the member representing Akure North and South Federal Constituency, in the state, Hon Mayokun Lawson Alade, and aimed to equip trainees with skills on how to improve tomato production.

Attanda, speaking through a Director of Research in the institute, Dr Olagorite Adetula, said that the training will enhance the Federal Government’s efforts and focus on agriculture as a strong driver of diversifying the country’s economy.

He said that Nigeria is the 14th largest producer of tomato in the world, second in Africa, yet it is the 13th largest importer of tomato paste in the world and third largest in Africa.

Attanda lamented that the short life span of the storage of tomatoes “ has contributed to high post-harvest losses (35-130%) experienced in the commodity value chain.

The Executive Director, however, pointed out that processing tomatoes will reduce seasonal glut and inconsistent year-round supply and reduce the quantity of tomatoes imported into the country.