FG empowers Kaduna youth, women with skills in tomato, okra production

As part of efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to promote food security and wealth creation, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through the National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT), has trained 300 youths and women on tomato, okra production, value addition and seed in Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna State.

The training covered nursery practices, transplanting techniques, field establishment and management, harvesting techniques, postharvest loss in tomato supply chain, value addition, economics of tomato and okra production, economics of tomato and okra value addition as well as record keeping in agribusiness.

The training, is aimed at building the capacity of youth and women on tomato and okra production as well as value addition for creating wealth and generating means of sustainable livelihood.

The Executive Director of NIHORT, Professor Attanda Mohammed Lawal, represented by the General Manager, Horticonsultancy Ventures Limited, NIHORT and training coordinator, Dr. Joel Akindele Akinfasoye, said the training would boost the Federal government’s efforts and focus on agriculture as a veritable means of diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

According to him, tomato and okra are commercially viable and a money-spinner for those who understand the value chain.

Lawal further said to maximise the potential of the commodities, capacity building and stakeholder’s engagement is crucial among other efforts to scale up the cultivation and processing of the crops.

“Tomato and okra serve as an industrial raw material for the canning industry for making paste, ketchup/sauce, puree, juice, dry slices, powder, whole peel tomato and okra powder. It is a low-capital agribusiness”, he stated. He then urged the beneficiaries to make best use of the knowledge and skills acquired in the training.

The facilitator of the programme and member, representing Lere Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Ahmed Munir, while admonishing the participants, urged them to make use of the opportunity by making a good living for themselves through establishing tomato and okra farms. This will bring quick income within three months.

Two of the participants, Mr. Sabiu Musa and Mrs. Mary Michael, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NIHORT, adding that the skill acquired during the training would help them in starting their own tomato and okra production.

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