The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has commenced the training farmers in Enugu State on modern techniques to increase the production of tomatoes in the region.
The farmers which comprised of youths and women were trained on the modern production of tomatoes at Enugu State College of Education Technical (ESCET), with the topic, ‘Emergency training on all season tomato production for Youth and women in the South East, South-South and South West.
Declaring the training open, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said that the aim of the training was to have all-season tomatoes in the region.
Kyari who was represented by the State Coordinator and Deputy Director, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Enugu, Mr. Peter Nwaogor, said the ministry through its development partners are training farmers on modern production of tomatoes to increase the supply and curb scarcity.
He commended the federal government for investing heavily in agriculture, saying the effort will reduce hunger and address food insecurity in the country.
Nwaogor therefore, urged the participants to share the knowledge they acquired at the training to other farmers in their respective communities, for the advancement of tomato production in the state.
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‘It’s in the light of this that the ministry is conducting a training programme for farmers in Enugu state to ensure continuity and supply of tomatoes in Nigeria.
‘Government policy on tomato production has huge potential to generate massive employment, eliminate hunger and poverty as well as save foreign exchange and create income and wealth among farmers.’
Earlier, in his opening remark, the Programme Manager of Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme, ENADEP, Dr Ogbonna Onyishi, said that the training was organised to teach farmers modern techniques of producing tomatoes.
He said that the benefits of the training is enormous, saying that Enugu has started producing 30% of tomato being used in the state, making tomato all season, increasing farmers’ income and many more.
‘We are here for the training of farmers on the production of tomatoes, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. They are being trained on the specific crops that grow in the South East for the advantageous use of the crop.
‘The training will create an opportunity for farmers to learn how to use technology and all varieties of species to ensure that tomato is produced all season. It will also reduce the hike in price because it will be always available in the market.’
Also, speaking, the supervisor for the tomato value chain, Mr. John Sule urged the participants to pay attention to get all that the source person will teach them.
