Kaduna: NIHORT trains 400 women, youths on tomato production, others

As part of efforts targeted at promoting food security and wealth creation, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in conjunction with National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT) has trained 400 youths and women on Tomato/pepper production, control of Tuta absoluta and value addition in Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna.

The training covered nursery practices, transplanting techniques, field establishment and management, control of Tuta absoluta disease, harvesting techniques, value addition, economics of tomato and pepper production, economics of tomato and pepper value addition as well as record keeping in agribusiness.

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

The Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr. 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 pepper are commercially viable and a money-spinner for those who understand the value chain.

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

“Tomato and pepper serve as an industrial raw material for the canning industry for making paste, ketchup/sauce, puree, juice, dry slices, powder and whole peel tomato. 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 community leader who was presented at the training, Alhaji Abbas Sigau, commended the Federal Government for empowering the women and young people. He also thanked the facilitator, Honourable Ahmed Munir representing Lere Federal Constituency for facilitating the programme.

He expressed his appreciation to NIHORT for handling the technical aspect of the training programme.

Two of the participants, Mallam Jaafaru Iliyasu and Hadjia Baraka Amunu, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NIHORT, adding that the skills acquired during the training would help them start their own tomato and pepper production.