The National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) is calling for federal government intervention to reduce post-harvest losses in the tomato sector. Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, Chairman of NATPAN’s Kaduna State chapter, made the appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Zuntu emphasized that proper government support is vital to help farmers reduce losses. Providing the right equipment and facilities could boost value addition and drive growth in the sector. He highlighted that most farmers are smallholders who cannot afford loans for the necessary equipment.
Zuntu proposed that using plastic crates for transporting tomatoes could significantly reduce losses. He said, “With plastic crates, the rate of post-harvest losses during transportation across Nigeria will be significantly reduced.”
NATPAN has partnered with various entities to help farmers reduce losses and improve income. Zuntu stated, “We are working with both existing and new processing facilities to cut down post-harvest losses and increase farmers’ income.” He also mentioned that processing machines could reduce the glut typically seen in the tomato market between January and February.
Zuntu also pointed out the introduction of solar dryers by non-governmental organizations for tomato preservation. While farmers are interested, the high cost of the dryers limits their access. The association is working to organize farmers into clusters to pool resources for acquiring the dryers.
Zuntu stressed that government intervention is crucial to sustain these efforts and support the tomato sector’s growth.
