The recent revelation that the country
imports over 70 metric tons of tomatoes at an estimated cost of N11
billion annually should jolt managers of the Nigerian economy into
action. Nigeria is the world's largest producer of tomatoes after Egypt.
It is basically an agrarian society -- over 60 per cent of its
population are engaged in agriculture. Yet, food importation into the
country remains high. Rice imports consume half a trillion naira each
year. Palm oil is imported from Malaysia, the very country that took its
first palm seedlings from Nigeria in the early 1970s.
No doubt, agriculture, which accounts for over 40 per cent of the GDP and two-thirds of employment, has suffered gross mismanagement as well as inconsistent and poor government policies over the years. The sector makes substantive contribution to non-oil growth. That is why challenges facing the sector need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. One sector that is calling for serious attention is that of vegetable production, processing and marketing. The tomatoes sub-sector, for instance, is faced with its own peculiar challenges alongside the general challenges of the Nigerian economic environment. Growers and processors all agree that government policies are not favourable to the growth and development of the crop. Among the many challenges is the lack of serious commitment in terms of trade policies and provision of infrastructure.
Factories have been set up across the country only for them to be abandoned or simply go comatose. Those factories set up by government usually die on arrival for the simple reasons of improperly thought-out business plans, unnecessary political considerations and over-ambitious commitment that cannot, in the long run, be sustained. This is the case with some like the Manto tomatoes and juice factory in Gombe State and the Ikara tomatoes factory in Kaduna state. In addition to all of these are the ever-present threat of unfair international trade policies and the importation of vegetable.
The local produce, though preferred and easily accessible to a majority of the people, has low shelf life and vulnerable to price fluctuations as a result of seasonal availability. However, the imported tomatoes have longer shelf life and more attractive to the eyes for its size and colour. Reason: the availability and applicability of technology, which enhances production and quality of produce. There is also the issue of conducive economic environment, which includes infrastructure like storage facilities, constant power supply and availability of good water flow. All these would sort out the problem of produce waste which occurs during peak season of production, a factor that contributes to unemployment and economic disempowerment among farmers.
These problems are neither insurmountable nor unavoidable. What is required is the will to do what is right for the common interest of the people of this country. It is about time we applied ourselves to the very serious issue of development and economic growth.
No doubt, agriculture, which accounts for over 40 per cent of the GDP and two-thirds of employment, has suffered gross mismanagement as well as inconsistent and poor government policies over the years. The sector makes substantive contribution to non-oil growth. That is why challenges facing the sector need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. One sector that is calling for serious attention is that of vegetable production, processing and marketing. The tomatoes sub-sector, for instance, is faced with its own peculiar challenges alongside the general challenges of the Nigerian economic environment. Growers and processors all agree that government policies are not favourable to the growth and development of the crop. Among the many challenges is the lack of serious commitment in terms of trade policies and provision of infrastructure.
Factories have been set up across the country only for them to be abandoned or simply go comatose. Those factories set up by government usually die on arrival for the simple reasons of improperly thought-out business plans, unnecessary political considerations and over-ambitious commitment that cannot, in the long run, be sustained. This is the case with some like the Manto tomatoes and juice factory in Gombe State and the Ikara tomatoes factory in Kaduna state. In addition to all of these are the ever-present threat of unfair international trade policies and the importation of vegetable.
The local produce, though preferred and easily accessible to a majority of the people, has low shelf life and vulnerable to price fluctuations as a result of seasonal availability. However, the imported tomatoes have longer shelf life and more attractive to the eyes for its size and colour. Reason: the availability and applicability of technology, which enhances production and quality of produce. There is also the issue of conducive economic environment, which includes infrastructure like storage facilities, constant power supply and availability of good water flow. All these would sort out the problem of produce waste which occurs during peak season of production, a factor that contributes to unemployment and economic disempowerment among farmers.
These problems are neither insurmountable nor unavoidable. What is required is the will to do what is right for the common interest of the people of this country. It is about time we applied ourselves to the very serious issue of development and economic growth.
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