By Ali Elias
The National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address post-harvest losses in the tomato sector. The Chairman of NATPAN’s Kaduna State chapter, Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Zuntu emphasized that government intervention is critical to equipping tomato farmers with the necessary tools and infrastructure to minimize post-harvest losses, which would ultimately enhance value addition and foster sectoral growth.
“Most farmers cannot afford loans for these equipment to aid reduction of post-harvest losses because they are smallholder farmers,” he said.
Zuntu highlighted the use of plastic crates as a key solution to the problem, particularly for transporting tomatoes from the farm to markets across the country.
“One of the ways to reduce post-harvest losses in tomato cultivation is to increase the use of plastic crates in the transportation of the produce from the farm to the market; from the north to other parts of the country.
“With the use of plastic crates for the transportation of tomatoes from one part of Nigeria to the other, the rate of post-harvest losses will be reduced,” he explained.
The NATPAN chairman also pointed to ongoing partnerships aimed at aiding smallholder farmers through mechanization and value addition.
“As an association, we are in partnership with some existing and new processing facilities to cut down post-harvest losses and increase the income of our farmers,” he said.
According to Zuntu, these partnerships include the use of tomato processing machines, which can significantly reduce the glut experienced during peak harvest periods, particularly between January and February.
“The production of local tomato processors is one of the cleanest ways of drying tomatoes and adding value as well as increasing the farmers’ income and the growth of the sector,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the efforts of non-governmental organizations that have introduced solar dryers for tomato preservation, though their high cost poses a challenge for many small-scale farmers.
“The farmers have shown interest in it, so we are going to adopt it, despite the high cost of the dryer. Some farmers cannot afford it. So, as an association, we are gathering farmers in clusters to be able to afford the solar dryers and reduce post-harvest losses,” Zuntu said.
He reiterated the urgency of government intervention, emphasizing its necessity for reducing waste and maximizing the economic potential of the tomato sector. The call by NATPAN for government intervention underscores a critical gap in Nigeria’s agricultural sector: the lack of adequate support for smallholder farmers. Addressing post-harvest losses not only secures the livelihood of these farmers but also ensures a steady supply of tomatoes for local consumption and export. A proactive response from the government, including subsidizing equipment like plastic crates and solar dryers, providing low-interest loans, and investing in processing facilities, is vital. Such measures will enhance productivity, reduce waste, and support the nation’s agricultural value chain.