An NGO, Heifer International, says it is partnering two agro-based companies, Agric Topic Vegetable Seed and Captain Nigeria, to boost tomato production in Dadi Louis community, Iworo in Badagry division of Lagos State.
Mr Rufus Idris,the NGO’s Country Director, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) during the visit of officials of the partners to the community on Thursday.
NAN reports that Dadi Louis community is an Island opposite Whispering Palms in Iworo, Olorunda Local Council Development Area of the state.
Idris said the mission of the NGO was to end poverty ,adding that the partnership would go a long way in supporting farmers on the Island.
“We are here today to have an engagement, to interact with some of the tomato farmers, because in Nigeria, tomato is a key produce.
“We have farmers who are producing in large quantities, and they are struggling a lot in terms of access to market for their products.
“They are struggling to access finance and also struggling to access reasonable water and do all-season farming.
“We are here to understand their problems and challenges and start a process so that we can start mapping these farmers’ farm sizes and see how we can help to lift them out of poverty,” he said.
Idris said the bringing of the food processing company to the Island was to buy tomatoes directly from farmers and improve their livelihoods .
He said the NGO was bringing the right technology to the area to boost tomato production and farmers’ income.
Idris added that the NGO would bring solar energy to the community to reduce dependency on petrol.
Ms Moye Ibo,Marketing Manager, and E-Commerce of Agrictropic Vegetable Seed Nigeria Ltd, said she was on the island to promote tomato production .
“We are in Dadi Louis to enlighten the farmers about our brand of vegetable seeds and also the incorporation of the seeds.
“The farmers are doing very well, they have been patronising us and they are happy to see what we have been bringing out for them.
“They don’t have any fears, is just that they need to put in their best and government should also support them in any way possible.
“This is in making sure that they do their work and bring out good output because this is the season when tomato thrives in Nigeria,” she said.
Ibo urged the government to reduce taxes payable by young companies coming into the country for the production of tomatoes.
According to her, high taxes could discourage investment in tomato production.
Also speaking, Mr Kachi Ekezie, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Captain Foods Ltd. a food processing company, said he was so excited to locate a tomato production facility in Lagos.
