Grow Africa, NABG plan first national tomato stakeholders’ summit

Astakeholders summit being organised by Grow Africa and the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), is bringing stakeholders together in order for farmers to leverage on the knowledge of experts to boost their production and increase output. This will ultimately impact on private sector investment in the tomato value chain in Nigeria, which currently lacks required investments, particularly in processing. Tomato farmers and other players in the value chain have over time, complained of inefficiencies in the value chain, particularly high post harvest losses and lack of local processing, which makes the sector realise far less than it should.

The one day Tomato Stakeholders Summit has been scheduled to hold in Kano on Thursday 24th January 2019. The summit has received the support of other partners working in the Tomato value chain such as, PYXERA Global, Technoserve Nigeria, GAIN Plan Project, AGRA, OTACCWA and TOGAN, the umbrella Tomato Association in Nigeria.

The summit, organisers say will highlight the new direction of the tomato value chain following the commencement of the implementation of the new tomato production. It will address some key factors limiting investment in the tomato industry in Nigeria, proffer actionable solutions to pre and postharvest loss problems, while also addressing production challenges faced by farmers. The summit will have in attendance key government officials, industry leaders, stakeholders, policy makers and partners in the tomato sector who share similar vision of developing and enhancing the tomato value chain in Nigeria and also to forge strategic partnership with local farmers and investors in the 12 largest tomato producing States.