The National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NATPAN) has called on the Federal Government to intervene in reducing post-harvest losses in the tomato sector.
Mr. Rabiu Zuntu, Chairman of NATPAN’s Kaduna State chapter, emphasized that government support is crucial for providing farmers with the necessary equipment and facilities to minimize these losses, thereby enhancing value addition and sector growth.
Zuntu highlighted that many tomato farmers are smallholders who cannot afford loans for essential equipment.
He suggested that increasing the use of plastic crates for transporting tomatoes could significantly reduce damage during transit, especially when moving produce from northern regions to other parts of Nigeria.
To further mitigate post-harvest losses, NATPAN is partnering with existing and new processing facilities to support smallholder farmers through mechanization.
The association however, is also exploring the adoption of solar dryers for tomato preservation, despite their high cost, by organizing farmers into clusters to collectively afford these technologies.
Zuntu reiterated the urgent need for government intervention, stating that reducing post-harvest losses would not only increase farmers’ incomes but also contribute to food security and the overall development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.