– The federal government
is making moves to address the shortage of tomatoes across the country
– The government has declared a state of emergency on the tomatoes
sub-sector in Nigeria
– The government also says a new tomatoes policy to address the current crisis is being finalised The federal government of Nigeria on Wednesday, June 15 declared a state of emergency on the tomatoes sub-sector across the nation. This is coming on the heels of the tomatoes scarcity that hit the country few weeks back which left many Nigerians to find alternatives to the problem.
Tomatoes has been scarce across Nigeria for the past few weeks
Tomatoes has been scarce across Nigeria for the past few weeks
The government’s plan was revealed by the minister of industry, trade
and investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar, who stated that 80 per cent of
tomatoes farms in the country had been ravaged by a pest known as tuta
absoluta, commonly referred to as Tomato Ebola.
Abubakar was speaking to journalists after she had a meeting with all the major stakeholders in the tomatoes sector to find lasting solution to the crisis. She said: “This meeting was convened in response to the current scarcity of tomatoes in the country occasioned by the outbreak of the tomato moth, tuta absoluta. “Our investors in the sector have also been upset about the CBN’s ban on foreign exchange allocation for the importation of tomato concentrate, a vital raw material for them. “So, we all came together to chart a way forward.The major decision we have taken is to develop a tomato policy under our National Industrial Revolution Programme (NIRP). “A technical committee that would work on the policy draft should take-off next week so that we would have an approved plan in place before the next tomatoes season.’’ Stakeholders who participated in the meeting includes farmers, processors, packagers, relevant government ministries and regulatory agencies. Abubakar informed the stakeholders that a technical committee that would draft the proposed policy would be inaugurated next week.
Meanwhile, the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria has announced a vaccine for Tomato Ebola. According to NARICT, the vaccine has been found to be very effective after undergoing various scientific testing. Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai had since declared a state of emergency on tomato farming in the state. The governor said that 80 per cent of tomatoes farms have been ravaged by Tomato Ebola. Kaduna is a state littered with many tomatoes farm. El-Rufai disclosed that about 200 farmers in only three local government areas in the state lost one billion Naira in the last one month.
– The government also says a new tomatoes policy to address the current crisis is being finalised The federal government of Nigeria on Wednesday, June 15 declared a state of emergency on the tomatoes sub-sector across the nation. This is coming on the heels of the tomatoes scarcity that hit the country few weeks back which left many Nigerians to find alternatives to the problem.
Abubakar was speaking to journalists after she had a meeting with all the major stakeholders in the tomatoes sector to find lasting solution to the crisis. She said: “This meeting was convened in response to the current scarcity of tomatoes in the country occasioned by the outbreak of the tomato moth, tuta absoluta. “Our investors in the sector have also been upset about the CBN’s ban on foreign exchange allocation for the importation of tomato concentrate, a vital raw material for them. “So, we all came together to chart a way forward.The major decision we have taken is to develop a tomato policy under our National Industrial Revolution Programme (NIRP). “A technical committee that would work on the policy draft should take-off next week so that we would have an approved plan in place before the next tomatoes season.’’ Stakeholders who participated in the meeting includes farmers, processors, packagers, relevant government ministries and regulatory agencies. Abubakar informed the stakeholders that a technical committee that would draft the proposed policy would be inaugurated next week.
Meanwhile, the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria has announced a vaccine for Tomato Ebola. According to NARICT, the vaccine has been found to be very effective after undergoing various scientific testing. Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai had since declared a state of emergency on tomato farming in the state. The governor said that 80 per cent of tomatoes farms have been ravaged by Tomato Ebola. Kaduna is a state littered with many tomatoes farm. El-Rufai disclosed that about 200 farmers in only three local government areas in the state lost one billion Naira in the last one month.
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