The National Institute of Horticultural Research (NIHORT) trained 50 unemployed women and youth in Ondo state on value addition in tomato production in an effort to lower post-harvest losses and unemployment.
The program was organized, according to Dr. Mohammed Attanda, director/chief executive officer of NIHORT, to promote sustained economic empowerment and growth in the tomato industry value chain.
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According to Attanda, tomatoes have the potential to positively affect Nigeria’s economic growth.
The seminar, which was organized in collaboration with the state representative for Akure North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Mayokun Lawson Alade, sought to give participants techniques for enhancing tomato production.
Speaking through Dr. Olagorite Adetula, Director of Research at the institute, Attanda claimed that the training will strengthen Federal Government initiatives to emphasize agriculture as a significant driver of economic diversification in the nation.
“The training will support household income, food security, job possibilities, wealth building, and health, particularly among young people and women.
He claimed that although Nigeria is the second-largest producer of tomatoes in Africa and the fourteenth-largest tomato producer in the world, it is the third-largest importer of tomato paste worldwide.
Attanda bemoaned that the substantial post-harvest losses (35–130%) experienced in the commodities value chain were a result of the tomatoes’ limited shelf life in storage.
However, the Executive Director emphasized that processing tomatoes will lessen seasonal overproduction, uneven year-round availability, and the nation’s tomato importation.
Through his chief of staff, Alade Oladapo, Hon. Mayowa, Lawson Alade urged the participants to fully utilize the program to advance their current knowledge of tomato production.
The training would “provide our teaming unemployed youth and women skills to become self-reliant,” Alade continued.
When delivering an outline of the workshop, a scientist researcher named Dr. Joel Akinfasoye stated that the training was focused on “developing the capacity of the participants, especially unemployed youths and women; this is a call towards the nation’s drive to economic progress.
When asked about their expectations following the training, Akinyele Oluwaseun and Elizabeth Oluwatosin, two of the participants, said that the knowledge they gained would significantly help farmers all over the state reduce post-harvest wastage.
They pledged to apply the information and materials for the desired goals as well.
Also given N100,000 each were the 50 trainees.
