NIHORT empowers Katsina women, youths with skills in pepper, tomato production

THE Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in conjunction with National Horticulture Research Institute (NIHORT), has trained youths and women on tomato/pepper production, control of Tuta absoluta and value addition in Safana/Batasari/Dan-Musa federal constituency, Katsina State.

A total number of 400 youths and women were trained and empowered during the programme.

The training, which was done in two batches, 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 was targeted at building the capacity of youth and women in tomato and pepper production as well as a value addition for creating wealth and generating means of sustainable livelihood.

Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr Attanda Mohammed Lawal, represented by the General Manager, Horticonsultancy Ventures Limited, NIHORT and training coordinator, Dr Joel Akindele Akinfasoye, pointed out that the training would drive the Federal Government’s efforts and focus on agriculture as a veritable means of diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

He said tomato and pepper are commercially viable and a money-spinner for those who understand the value chain.

According to him, to maximise the potential of the tomato and pepper, capacity building and stakeholders’ engagement are 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 the best use of the knowledge and skills acquired in the training.

The representative of the facilitator, Alhaji Kabir Dayyanu commended the Federal Government for empowering the women and youths. He also thanked the facilitator, Honourable Ilyasu representing Safana/Batasari/Dan-Musa Federal Constituency, Katsina State for facilitating the programme. He expressed his appreciation to NIHORT for handling the technical aspect of the training programme.

Two of the participants, Mallam Hussaini Kabir and Hadjia Hauwa Babba, on behalf of others, thanked the Federal Government and NIHORT for the training. They promised to put into practice the knowledge acquired during the training.