Ministry, research institute, others move to boost tomato production in S’West
Ahead of this year’s rainy season, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), in collaboration with Tomato and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria, is set increase the production of tomato from 15 tonnes to 35 tonnes across the South-West Zone of the country.
This is aimed at reducing the scarcity and high cost of tomatoes during the rainy season. The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIHORT, Prof. Muhammed Lawal Attanda, disclosed this during the 2025 yearly in-house research review and planning meeting organised by the Institute in Ibadan.
He said that NIHORT would work hard to reduce the wastage of foods produced in the country as part of the Federal Government’s determination to guarantee food security.
Attanda said that the institute has the mandate to conduct research into genetic improvement, production technologies, processing, storage, utilisation, marketing of fruits, vegetables, spices, and ornamental plants of nutritional and economic importance.
He also stated that the institute had made some remarkable achievements that could guarantee food security. Attanda also disclosed that the institute had produced and obtained a patent for tomato wine, just as it developed mango juice to minimise post-harvest losses experienced during the peak season of mango production.
He also noted that four different snacks had been developed from a combination of mango, ginger, and breadfruit, adding that NIHORT has conducted a national survey of horticultural stakeholders to profile and map actors in the value chain.
“This will promote engagement with stakeholders in the horticultural value chain, among others. The institute through her empowerment capacity training programme (Horticultural Academy for Youth programme) has also trained unemployed youths on horticultural crop production in lowland and upland for employment generation and sustainable livelihood,” Attanda added.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubarkar Kiyari, represented by Southwest Regional Director of the ministry, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu, said research is imperative to the attainment of food security in the country.
The Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, represented by the provost of the Federal College of Animal Production and Health, Dr. Olatunde Owosibo, reiterated the determination of the Federal Government to fight hunger. He advised the research institute to develop, validate and transfer appropriate technologies that are demand-driven, eco-friendly, affordable and adaptable.
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