As part of the efforts of Oyo State Government in boosting the production of tomato and other species of pepper, the State Government has mediated with representatives from European Union in scaling up the varieties of tomato available to its citizens, such that, farmers would be able to access storage facilities as well as other preservative measures that will address the perennial losses often experienced by farmers whose product often get perished before getting to the market.

The Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperative, Princess Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba made this disclosure recently while interacting with representatives of the European Union and some farmers in Oyo State at a stakeholders’ meeting which was centred on how to make tomato business operations profitable and sustainable.

The project is an intervention which would aid the production of tomato amongst the off-takers. To this end, technical education would be provided to farmers across the state which would be centered on areas that would lead to value addition, increase in production and improvement in the general standard of the living of the people of the State. “It is a project that would empower everyone involved in the planting and supply chains of tomatoes and other categories of pepper” she added.

This intervention aligns with the State Government’s aim at retaining its rightful status as a pacesetter, bearing in mind that, the economic transformation agenda of the present administration is to seek all round development of the State as well as creating the right platform for small businesses and market activities to thrive. Consequently, farmers and others within the value chain are enjoined to maximize this opportunity.

In the same vein, the Special Adviser on Intervention, Funds and Development, Dr. Adebukola Adebusuyi stressed that, Oyo State remains the largest producer of vegetables within the South West region. She furthered that, the State Government would be facilitating various training sessions that would sharpen the skills of the famers in the State especially on how to make profitable tomato productions and preservation, thereby retaining the State’s leading profile as an investment destination in the growing of vegetables and other agricultural produce in South West, Nigeria. Dr Afebusuyi also expressed optimism that, the challenges encountered by farmers and other persons while handling such perishable items would soon become a thing of the past.

Also, representatives of the European Union, Dr John Bruecher, reiterated that, the project which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Planning is to mainly focus on the production of tomato, ginger and pepper.
‘”we are here on intervention of farmers at all level particularly in sensitizing and training them on modern production techniques, better seeds of tomatoes and other pepper, and proper handling ad storage facilities, and more importantly, teach farmers about farming as a business” he added.

Similarly, one of the stakeholders, Mrs Lanre Nwakwo added that training of the local farmers on modern practices would go a long way in achieving good result in terms of soil analysis, right seedling and right handling.

‘”we are campaigning that crates should be used in preserving tomato and other pepper rather than baskets which may make tomatoes and other pepper go out of their shape when there is pressure and while transporting them”she added.