Dangote Tomato Processing Plant, Kano, has disclosed that a N3 billion high-tech greenhouse nursery capable of producing between 300 and 350 million tons of hybrid tomato seedlings has been established in Kano.
The Managing Director of the farm, Abdulkarim Lawal Kaita, disclosed this on Thursday, adding that the company’s new investment is likely to end the over $350 million the country spends on the importation of processed tomatoes annually.
The farm which he claimed is fully automated, is the largest and first of its kind in West Africa. He said the farm is expected to enhance the economy of local tomato farmers. He said the technology is expected to increase harvest from the current 10 tons per acre to about 40 tons per acre.
According to him, the greenhouse nursery will facilitate increased production of high-quality seedlings which will support farmers in the production of fresh tomatoes and locally made paste.
He explained that the goal is to make Nigeria self- sufficient in tomato production.
He further disclosed that the country consumes 2.3 million tons of tomato paste, saying “but we have the capacity to produce eight million tons annually, exceeding local consumption. You can now imagine how much the country can make on foreign exchange.”
