The National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) has called on the Federal Government to intervene in reducing post-harvest losses in the tomato sector. Rabiu Zuntu, Chairman of NATPAN’s Kaduna State chapter, made this appeal on Tuesday in Lagos, emphasizing the critical need for government support to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
Zuntu highlighted that with adequate facilities and modern equipment, farmers could significantly cut down on post-harvest losses, boosting value addition and the overall growth of the tomato industry.
“Smallholder farmers cannot afford the loans required to purchase these facilities,” Zuntu explained. “The government’s support in providing interventions, such as affordable equipment and plastic crates for transportation, will drastically reduce spoilage during transit from farms in the North to markets nationwide.”
He also noted ongoing partnerships with processing facilities and the adoption of technologies like solar dryers to minimize seasonal gluts and preserve tomatoes effectively. However, the high cost of solar dryers remains a challenge for many farmers, prompting NATPAN to encourage farmers to form clusters to share resources.
Zuntu urged the Federal Government to prioritize the sector, as reducing post-harvest losses would not only increase farmers’ incomes but also enhance food security and drive economic growth in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
