Skip to main content

Tomato Value Chain in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Strategies | Chapter 02 | Advances in Applied Science and Technology Vol. 6

The study was carried out to appraise tomato value chain in order to promote the development of tomato production and processing industry in Nigeria. Currently in Nigeria, about 1.8 Million tonnes of fresh tomato are produced per year, but over 50% of these are lost due to poor storage system, poor transportation and lack of processing enterprises. This makes it important to develop strategies for the development of tomato value chain. The method employed in this study includes semi-structured informal interviews with key value chain actors such as producers, intermediate traders, retailers and input suppliers and a critical review of available literature. The study revealed that there are good varieties of tomatoes in Nigeria, but only a few are suitable for industrial processing with regard to quantity and quality. The research also revealed that Nigeria is still not a major exporter of either fresh or processed tomato products despite the high production of fresh tomatoes. This was found to be due to inadequate supply of good quality seeds, inadequate storage facilities, poor disease and pest management, and poor processing facilities. The development of tomato for industrial use is currently gaining momentum, in the area of production of tomato juice, paste, ketchup, puree, and powder. Strategies identified to overcome the challenges include: policy shift to encourage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as Industries along the value chain; improved input supplies; organisation of farmers into cooperatives so as to initiate innovative funding mechanism for them; establishment of clusters for processors; improvement in marketing strategies including guaranteed price for fresh tomato products; adjustment in tariff regime to favour local manufacturers including outright ban on importation of processed tomato products; increased investments in Research and Development (R&D) to produce improved seed varieties and develop technologies for storage and processing; adoption of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) by farmers and a strong National Commodity Association or Network.

Author(s) Details

Dr. (Mrs) C. U. Ugonna
School of Built Environment, Liverpool John Moors University, Liverpool, UK.

Dr. M. A. Jolaoso
Department of Agricultural and Agro-Allied, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja, Nigeria.

Prof. A. P. Onwualu
Department of Research and Innovation, National Universities Commission, Abuja, Nigeria.

View Volume: https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aast/v6

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Greening Regional Airports: A Vision for Carbon Neutral Infrastructure | Chapter 12 | Contemporary Perspective on Science, Technology and Research Vol. 3

 This study provides an overview of the energy demand of a regional airport, divided into individual time horizons. The electrification of aircraft systems raises the question of whether airports will be among the largest electricity consumers in our infrastructure in the future. Sustainability and especially emission reductions are significant challenges for airports that are currently being addressed. The Clean Sky 2 project GENESIS addresses the environmental sustainability of hybrid-electric 50-passenger aircraft systems in a life cycle perspective to support the development of a technology roadmap for the transition to sustainable and competitive electric aircraft systems. This article originates from the GENESIS research and describes various options for ground power supply at a regional airport. Potential solutions for airport infrastructure with a short (2030), medium (2040), and long (2050) time horizon are proposed. In addition to the environmental and conservation benefi...

Occipital Dermal Sinus Tract Causing Craniospinal Infection: A Review | Chapter 13 | New Visions in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 4

  Dermal sinus is a rare congenital condition characterized by a pathological tract connecting the skin to deeper tissues of the central nervous system, potentially leading to severe infectious complications. It arises from a failure in the separation of ectodermal layers during early gestation. Diagnosing dermal sinus tract in newborns requires a careful physical examination, focusing on midline dimples in the occipital region associated with cutaneous abnormalities like hairy nevus or hyperpigmentation. The presence of drainage, abnormal hair distribution, or localized swelling may indicate a sinus tract. Regular examination for dimples or sinuses is recommended for infants and children with recurrent meningitis or infections. Early detection is crucial to prevent severe complications like meningitis, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common causative organism. Neuroradiological studies, including computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with histopath...

Alkali Element Modification of Glucose Molecules as a Method to Dissolve Cancer Cells | Chapter 12 | New Visions in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 4

  The present study highlights about alkali element modification of glucose molecules as a method to dissolve cancer cells. The central regulation of the mechanisms governing cell proliferation has little effect on cancer cells. Cancer cells are entirely independent of the central command and divide and proliferate on their own, making it challenging to activate their response mechanism. Precisely, this is the reason why they are at risk to the health of humans and/or any biological entities. Instead of trying to reconnect the central command of the growth control mechanism to cancer cells that are already out of the range, we present a method of using the cancer cell’s own irresponsive and uncontrolled growth mechanism to their disadvantage and destroy the cancer cells. We found that this is achievable in an atomic/molecular level study of the glucose molecule, which is the primary food source used for growth and energy generation by all cells in the body, including the cancer cel...