By Grace Ademulegun
Through her social venture, Tomato Jos, Mira Mehta, a visionary leader and ardent entrepreneur, has established herself in the agricultural scene of Northern Nigeria.
Tomato Jos is a farming and food processing firm that was founded in 2014 with the goal of improving Nigerian agriculture by empowering smallholder farmers to become skilled producers and bolstering the nation’s tomato value chain.
The company, which is based in Kaduna State, has several acres of tomato farms and produced Nigeria’s first sachet tomato paste, enabling customers to easily get premium culinary items.
In addition to offering high-quality goods, Tomato Jos helps local farmers—women in particular—improve their standard of living.
Mehta worked in Nigeria and New York in the healthcare and financial services industries prior to founding Tomato Jos.
With an MBA from Harvard Business School and a business degree from Brown University, she acquired useful technical skills and a compassionate perspective that motivated her to start a company that catered to the lower echelons of the economic pyramid.
Mehta moved to Nigeria in 2014 with the goal of establishing a viable indigenous value chain that would lessen Nigeria’s need on imported tomato paste. She brought a fresh perspective to Nigerian agriculture by concentrating on farming initially before branching out into manufacturing.
“Tomato Jos concentrated solely on farming for the first five years of the company’s existence,” Mehta said in an interview.
Before opening its facility, the company was able to “de-risk the upstream end of the business” thanks to this strategic strategy. In order to prevent production disruptions, which are a regular problem for other tomato processors in Nigeria, the team was also able to learn the science of producing tomatoes year-round, guaranteeing a consistent supply of raw materials.
Tomato Jos’ dedication to empowering women is one of its most notable features. Women make up over 60 percent of the farmers in the program. Mehta and her group realised that although women are vital to Nigerian agriculture, they frequently do not profit from their labour because they usually work for their dads or husbands.
Tomato Jos distributes land directly to female farmers in order to rectify this disparity and let them benefit from their labour.
Smallholder farmer Aisha Mohammed of Kangimi village talked about her life-changing experience with Tomato Jos.
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“I’ve come a long way in life since I began working with Tomato Jos. I’ve been able to launch a new company, pay for my kids’ tuition, and even build a house,” She disclosed.
Tomato Jos started building a cutting-edge tomato processing facility in Kangimi village, Kaduna State, in 2020. With the ability to turn freshly harvested tomatoes into sachet tomato paste in less than a day, this facility was a critical turning point in the company’s history.
“The fact that we produce straight into the sachet is what sets Tomato Jos apart. When the tomatoes arrive at the farm, they are packaged and prepared for sale in a day, Mehta said in an interview.
In addition to guaranteeing freshness and quality, this efficient procedure distinguishes the brand from rivals that depend on imported goods or protracted production cycles.
The company takes pride in its adherence to strict food safety standards. “Our processes are regulated by NAFDAC,” Mehta emphasized, saying confidently, “We ensure everything that goes for consumption is very clean, with no residues of any sort. We are producing a very natural product, and we take a lot of pride in our quality.”
To date, Tomato Jos has employed over 200 full-time and contract workers and built a network of more than 3,000 smallholder farmers. These farmers benefit from training, access to farming inputs, and technology to increase tomato yields and improve crop quality.
The company’s approach has significantly increased farmer incomes while bolstering Nigeria’s tomato value chain. By focusing on local production, Tomato Jos has reduced dependency on imported tomato paste and set a standard for sustainable agribusiness practices.
Mehta conducted in-depth research on international best practices, especially in California, as part of his mission to create Tomato Jos. She did, however, stress how crucial it is to adjust to local conditions.
Mehta and her colleagues overcame the obstacles that have plagued previous attempts at tomato production in Nigeria by recognising these subtleties and developing a novel methodology.
Tomato Jos is still a bright example of how innovation, dedication to local communities, and ecological methods can transform agriculture as it expands.
According to Mehta, the goal of the journey is not only to turn a profit but also to empower farmers, particularly women, and create a robust food system for Nigeria.
Tomato Jos is demonstrating that agriculture can be both profitable and revolutionary with its fully integrated approach, which includes growing, processing, and quality and sustainability.
Mira Mehta is bringing optimism, empowerment, and transformation to Northern Nigeria through her work, which goes beyond simply growing tomatoes. END
