- The minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, says the FG’s proposed ban on importation of tomato paste is part of measures to revolutionise tomato production in the country
- Ogbeh notes that the CBN has set-aside the sum of N250 billion to disburse as soft loans to tomato outgrowers as part of the apex bank’s anchor-borrower scheme
- The minister says the federal government will continue to encourage farmers to grow massive tomatoes in Nigeria
The federal government plans to ban the importation of tomato paste before the end of 2019 to encourage massive local production, the minister of agriculture and natural resources, Audu Ogbeh on has disclosed.
Ogbeh made the disclosure on Monday, February 4, at a tomato process plant at Kadawa in Garun-Mallam local government of Kano state, The Nation reports.
The minister stated that the ban was part of efforts by the president administration to embark of tomato revolution across the country as part of its diversification policy in agriculture.
READ ALSO: 4,000 SDP members defects to APC in Kebbi state
He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the bank agriculture had already set-aside the sum of N250 billion to disburse as soft loans to tomato outgrowers as part of the apex bank’s Anchor-borrower scheme.
"Federal government will continue to encourage farmers to grow massive tomatos in Nigeria and with this kind of outfit, farmers will earn more with better seedlings from the Dangote green house and get better results," he said.
READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda
“The farmers will supply to the processor and eventually join tomatos breeders in the world. In a short while, Nigeria will simply stop importation and dependant on other source for tomato supply."
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to address clashes between herdsmen and farmers, a 10-year National Livestock Transformation Plan has been initiated by the federal government.
According to Sahara Reporters, quoting Daily Trust, the government's plan is expected to gulp about N91bn in investments and will yield a two trillion naira profit over the 10-year period.
Legit.ng gathered that the seven pilot states of Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara which have been affected by herdsmen/farmers clashes, will each get grazing reserves with four ranches in the plan's first phase.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have updated to serve you better!
I married four wives, built houses under Buhari's regime - farmer boasts| Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
