FG to ban importation of tomato paste, says Ogbeh

The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Audu
Ogbeh on Monday in Kano, said the Federal government will place
final ban on the importation of tomatoes paste before the end of
2019, ostensibly to encourage massive local production.

Ogbeh who was on fact finding tour alongside, the Governor of
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele to Dangote Tomato
process plant at Kadawa in Garun-Mallam local government of Kano
state, Monday, said that the Federal government under the
leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari will embark of tomato
revolution across the country as part of its diversification policy
in agriculture.

According to him, the sum of N250 billion has already been
earmarked by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the Bank
Agriculture to disburse as soft loans to tomato outgrowers as part
of the apex bank’s Anchor-borrower scheme.

Ogbeh, lamented that the country has spent over $22 billion on
the importation of tomato paste from China annually, added that the
CBN intervention will not only empower local growers but strengthen
the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

Ogbeh who revealed that the inspection of Dangote’s tomato
facility was part measures to encourage private manufacturing
companies to sustain local production of tomatos.

He assured tomatos farmers that the Anchor-borrowers initiative
will further enhance their capacity to grow massive crops that will
enable processing facilities to produce tomato paste local
consumption and export.

According to him “Federal government will continue to encourage
Dangote agro-farms and the farmers to grow massive tomatos in
Nigeria and with this kind of outfit, farmers will earn more with
better seedlings from the Dangote green house and get better
results.

“The farmers will supply to the processor and eventually join
tomatos breeders in the world. In a short while, Nigeria will
simply stop importation and dependant on other source for tomato
supply”.

On his part, the CBN Governor, Mr. Emefiele said the apex bank
supported Dangote green house with N1.3billion to produce hybrid
tomato seedlings to enhance massive local cultivation.

He said “We are recall that Dangote set up the tomato processing
plant four years ago as the only true tomato, manufacturing plant
in Nigeria because others are just marketing foreign paste in the
country.

“However getting this factory to work has always been a major
challenge but after extensive discussion, the CBN approved and to
support Dangote’s proposal of N3.5billion to build the green house
plant from where the hybrid tomato seedlings will be manufactured
and transplant for massive production.

“The green house plant will produce 3 million seedlings which
will supply to farmers. With this hybrid tomato seedling, farmers
will be able to produce over 70,000 tons per hectare against the
10,000 tons.

To this end, “this output will encourage farmers to increase
their production and provide job opportunity. Let me emphasize the
federal government ban on those foods and other items we can
produce in this country still remain on the banning list.

Chairman, Dangote Tomato Processing Plant, Alhaji Sani Dangote
assured that with right policies in place, Nigeria will not only be
self-sufficient in tomato paste consumption but also produce enough
for exportation by year 2023.

According to him, the company will commence cultivation of its
tomatos farm production on the 200 hectares of land donated by the
state government to meet local processing demands.

He said “With the support from CBN, Kano state government and
commitment of government to ban the tomato paste importation to
Nigeria, farmers will benefit from Dangote’s well structure
facility that will provide the seedlings from the green house and
supply beginning from this year. With this arrangement, Farmers
will be able to harvest 70,000 tons per hectare against the
10,000.

“Let me assured CBN government and Minister of agriculture and
the state government that if will get the right supports from all;
the value chains, this country from 2013 will start export of
tomatos concentrate is to other African countries and by 2021
Nigeria will be self sufficient of tomatos consumption”.

He further said, “In this Kadawa alone, there are over 60,000
hectares and in Nigeria we don’t need more 25,000 hectares, and
with improved seedlings to be self sufficient in tomato
production.

“With the additional 170,000 hectares, In Nigeria we have over
200,000 hectares according to the data we have, that are used for
cultivation of tomatoes, if we are already engaging 200,000
hectares and producing only 2miilion because of low yield, it shows
that, if we move to the higher yield, Nigeria can produce 16million
tons of tomato paste.

“So if Nigeria can take the right step only one move, ban it,
get support from the CBN on Anchor Borrowers and the Federal
government, by 2021, Nigeria will not import a kilo of tomato
concentrate”.