Tomato farmers in the country are once again, complaining of huge losses (to the tune of N10 billion) as the commodity continues to perish in large volumes, without them being able to sell off or get them preserved. This is the second time the complaint will be made this year, as farmers allege sabotage by some entities that continue importation of tomato pastes into the country, without recourse to government’s policy on it.
This season alone, Abdulahi Ringim, national president, Tomato Growers Association Of Nigeria (TOGAN), said “members have lost N10 Billion due to poor market and lack of guaranteed off takers. The Open market cannot mop all the harvest.
Ringim further said that “Dangote Tomato Processing Company and Savannah Integrated Farm Limited who have off-take arrangements with farmers have remained handicapped, unable to produce and their factories shut down as these packers of triple concentrate in country rely heavily on importation at the detriment of Nigeria Farmers and Industries.
“These Indigenous factories whom off-take tomatoes from farmers have shut down because of lack of buyers of their concentrate. These packers would rather import from China and other countries without duty or smuggle them through Republic of Benin,” he said.
The Federal Government’s policy on tomato which was released last year, stopped importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate put up for retail sale, importation of tomatoes preserved otherwise by vinegar or acetic acid. It increased tariff on tomato concentrate to 50 percent with an additional levy of $1,500/metric tonne. It also restricted importation of tomato concentrate to the seaports, to address the abuse of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
However, tomato farmers are alleging that the Nigerian Customs Service has failed to enforce the policy, a claim BusinessDay is yet to independently verify. This according to the farmers has made it difficult for tomato processors in the country to be competitive, hence, their factories being redundant most of the time.
Nigeria’s tomato production which stands at 1.5 million metric tonnes, records post harvest losses and wastage of 40 percent, valued at N72 billion annually, between farm and market, according to BusinessDay estimates. The losses imply that Nigeria only has 800,000 metric tonnes of tomato out of a 2.2 million metric tonne demand, at least according to data contained in the Agriculture Promotion Policy for 2016 to 2020.
If the situation does not improve, the farmers say government has a 40 day ultimatum, for its relevant Ministries & Agencies to act or witness a mass protest by Tomato Farmers with Trailer Loads of Rotten Harvest to the Nigerian Senate, Customs Service, NAFDAC, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Finance.
Whether or not the threat will be carried out or taken for a joke remains to be seen, but as it stands, the losses in tomato production appear to be getting out of hand.
CALEB OJEWALE
Twiiter: @calebtinolu
