Nigeria: Olam partners with research institute

The strategic partnership between both firms will enable Olam through its subsidiary, Caraway Africa Nigeria Limited, produce about 30 metric tonnes of fresh tomatoes per hectare in each farming cycle from the farms in Karfi in Kano State, Masama and Guri in Jigawa State. The company started production in October 2019.
“We have decided to go for an additional eight varieties of hybrid tomato seeds already existing in Nigeria which have higher yield potential, but which the farmers are not using because of the cost. We have selected tomato seed varieties which produce fresh tomatoes as well as the variants which are good for tomato processing,” said Rejig George, vice president in charge of farming initiatives.

 
Over the years, the country’s tomato production has been facing consistent challenges such as inadequate seed varieties for farmers which have resulted in poor yields. Poor storage techniques and lack of funds for farmers to purchase better varieties have also limited farmers from meeting the required market demand. The Olam and World Vegetable Centre partnership could triple the country’s annual production of tomato which is currently about 2.3 million metric tonnes in deficit.

Mr. George added that during the course of the year, the firm seeks partnership with developmental organisations to draft 1,000 tomato farmers across the county, in its out-grower programme as it plans to acquire 500 hectares of farmland solely for tomato production, adding that processing of tomato will commence in February 2021.

Source: businessamlive.com, pmnewsnigeria.com