Tomato import costs Nigeria $1.5b annually

In from Ali Smart
Nigeria spends over $1.5 billion annually in the importation of tomato products from China and other parts of the world, Dr Husaini Ibrahim, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has said.
Dr. Ibrahim made this disclosure on Saturday while addressing farmers in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.
According to the RMRDC boss, “Despite comparative advantage the country has in all year round production in tomato, we are largely dependent on importation of tomato paste and other tomato product from China and other exporting countries which is unacceptable.”
He revealed that the country spends $1.5 billion annually on tomato products importation from China and other parts of the world, a development, he maintained, is unsustainable.

Read also: Nigeria spends N1tn yearly to import fish, rice

Dr. Ibrahim who was represented by Dr Usman Argungu Hassan, a Consultant, further revealed that in the Council’s quest to address the problem of acute shortage of tomato vegetables and to boost Nigeria’s foreign currency earning, the RMRDC decided to introduce improved and certified high yielding tomato seeds to various Growers Associations in the country.
The essence of introducing the improved seeds is to boost its production in the country, he stressed.
The Council, he hinted, has since developed a robust monitoring and evaluating plan in conjunction with the Nasarawa State government to ensure productivity in crop production.

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