Tomato is a major staple in Nigerian cuisine, used in stews, soups, sauces, salads, and more.
According to credible statistics, Kaduna, Kano, and Plateau States are the top producers. The crop is vital for food security and farmers’ income.
However, the tomato value chain faces significant challenges, primarily recurring post-harvest losses and poor preservation.
In Kaduna State, tomato farmers are urging government intervention to reduce post-harvest losses, which severely impact incomes and sector growth.
The National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) is advocating for government support to provide equipment and facilities that minimize waste and boost value addition.
Key challenges include limited access to loans for equipment, poor transportation infrastructure, and the high perishability of the produce.
To tackle these, NATPAN is partnering with processing facilities to promote mechanized farming and cut losses. Solutions being explored include plastic crates for transportation and solar dryers for preservation.
The International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) is also promoting plastic tomato crates and training farmers on post-harvest best practices.
Kaduna tomato farmers have called on the Federal Government to supply affordable fertilizers and revive processing facilities to curb losses and stabilize prices.
One farmer, Hussaini Uba, told reporters that tomatoes and other produce are highly perishable, with prices fluctuating due to weather.
He said establishing processing plants would preserve excess produce and reduce waste.
Uba recalled that during the administration of former Governor Balarabe Musa, a tomato processing company produced canned tomatoes, absorbing surplus harvests for processing and export.
“Back then, whenever there was a bumper harvest, tomatoes were taken to the factory. It helped minimize losses, but those companies are no longer functioning,” he added.
He noted that a basket of tomatoes currently sells for between ₦12,000 and ₦20,000, depending on quality and variety.
Uba said the common preservation method is slicing and sun-drying until the off-season, though many farmers prefer to sell immediately after harvest.
He urged Governor Uba Sani to revive moribund processing plants and ensure affordable inputs for farmers.
Another farmer, Salisu Abdullahi, lamented the lack of functional processing companies, forcing reliance on sun-drying.
“Although the northern parts produce large quantities of tomatoes, we lack processing facilities. Fertilizers and pesticides are also expensive,” he said.
Abdullahi called for government intervention to lower farm input prices.
He noted that some cold storage facilities in Plateau help preserve tomatoes and other perishables briefly, and appealed for similar facilities in Kaduna.
The farmers said such interventions would boost production, improve incomes, and enhance food supply for sustainable security.
In Kano State, tomato farmers have appealed to the state government for urgent intervention, including affordable fertilizers and modern storage facilities to address rising costs and post-harvest losses.
The appeal follows challenges like Tuta absoluta pest outbreaks, soaring fertilizer prices, and inadequate storage, causing up to 40% crop losses and struggles to meet market demands.
Nura Bello, a farmer from Kura, told reporters about the difficulties in maintaining crop quality.
“The pest outbreak caused significant damage. Now, with high fertilizer prices and no proper storage, sustaining production is almost impossible.
“We need government support for affordable fertilizers and storage facilities to protect harvests from spoilage,” he urged.
Sani Ali, from Bunkure, stressed the urgency of storage solutions, as many farmers sell at a loss immediately after harvest due to no preservation options.
He called for government collaboration with public and private stakeholders to invest in modern storage technologies and establish hubs in key agricultural zones.
Bala Nasiru, another farmer from Kura, echoed concerns about inadequate support and urged affordable pesticides, fertilizers, and training programmes to manage pests and improve yields.
