The deputy director, procurement at the National Research Institute
for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Alhaji Bello Abubakar has revealed
that Nigeria is losing over N15 billion annually to importation of
processed tomato.
Abubakar made the disclosure yesterday, January 10
during the bidding of 2017 projects, held at NARICT in Basawa, Zaria,
Kaduna state, The Nation reports.
He said the projects being bidded for included
physical structure of two tomato companies at Jigawa and Yobe states,
supply of fabrication (factory equipment) and construction of green
house at Jigawa state.
His words: “Nigeria is the leading producer of
tomato in Africa and 13th in the world, yet the country is importing
over 66 million tonnes of processed tomato, valued at over N15 billion
annually, according CBN report.”
Abubakar stated that NARICT had invented and
developed tomato processing technology in its effort to reduce the huge
amount lost annually from importation of processed tomato
He appealed to governments at all levels, private
organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to patronise the product to
boost tomato cultivation and improve the production capacity of the
institute.
Meanwhile The Dangote Tomato Processing Factory in Kadawa, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State is to resume production in February
