…as big basket of tomatoes goes for N16,000
By Gabriel Ewepu
ABUJA- DESPITE the crushing hardship across the country, tomato farmers in Kano have raked in huge profits from harvest proceeds, and had married wives, bought houses, lands and motorcycles.
This is after the farmers made huge losses running into billions of Naira as a result of the unexpected invasion of the insects popularly called tuta absoluta, which the Chairman, M.K. Kura Farms, Butalawa, Kura Local Government Area, Kano State, Mukhtar Kura, disclosed in a chat with Vanguard that tomato farmers have never seen a bumper harvest as this in Kano State based on the huge cultivation of tomato.
Kura said: “Yes, tomato farmers are happy because most of the farmers are sustaining themselves and their children from their dry season harvests. The youth amongst them are getting married, and buying houses, lands and motorcycles, it is a joyful season for them and it makes them put in more effort when the rainy season started.
“Abubakar, one of the residents of Kura/Garin Mallam area which is where my farm is located narrated to me that he has never seen a season where tomatoes were planted this much, especially the string frame method of tomato farming which they’re adopting. More harvests are on the way In Sha Allah.”
Meanwhile, according to him, a big basket of tomatoes is sold at N16,000 compared to over N100,000 about four months back.
“Presently, a basket isn’t the main measuring medium for tomatoes. A certain type of crate is used, and each crate is ranging from N7,000 – N8,000, depending on the quality of the tomatoes and the buyer. However, two full crates would fill a big basket, so a big basket would be N14,000-N16,000”, he said.
However, he (Kura) counseled farmers on how to prevent attacks on their crops by tuta absoluta (Tomato Ebola), fertilizer application, and best agronomic practices.
“Firstly, a farmer should have full capital preparation before starting the tomato farming project so as to fulfill every criteria for a bountiful harvest, and to be ready to safeguard his plants from harms way, at the right time.
“Secondly, a farmer should make sure he gets authentic fertilizer, because fake products are on the rise, and unfortunately a lot of our farmers are vulnerable to falling for them.
“Some of the effects of these substandard fertilizers is that the tomatoes tend to fall down before their due time, which would definitely incur losses.
“Thirdly, one must seek professional advice on the type of farm he intends to plant his tomatoes, especially the dry season tomatoes, because there are a lot of factors ranging from soil PH, temperature, humidity and so on that needs to be suitable for tomatoes to properly thrive.
“Lastly and most importantly, farmers need to be extra vigilant towards pests, especially in the dry season where losses occur annually.
“This is why modern farming techniques needs to be adopted, like the string method-even though it’s done locally- it’s a good start. Going forward, the different types of Irrigation methods of tomato farming needs to be introduced.”
Meanwhile, he called on the Kano State Government to intervene in the tomato value chain in order to address issues affecting farmers and to upscale production.
“I would like to call on the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr Danjuma Mahmood, to focus on key issues affecting our tomato farmers, a vital part of Kano’s agricultural economy.
“There are three crucial areas that need urgent attention to enhance tomato farming, increase yields, and ensure food security; Farmer Education and Support: It is imperative that our tomato farmers are educated on modern farming techniques that can help them increase their yield and minimize risks such as crop failure and disease. Along with this, the provision of appropriate farming equipment and tools must be ensured, with proper monitoring to guarantee they are used efficiently and for their intended purposes.
“Investigating Fake Farming Products: There has been a rising concern regarding the sale of counterfeit farming products such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides. It is crucial for the government to establish robust investigative measures to clamp down on unscrupulous traders selling fake products. These harmful practices not only jeopardize the livelihoods of farmers but also negatively impact food quality and yield.
“Fertilizer Support for Farmers: Most poor farmers in Kano State struggle to afford fertilizers, which directly affects their crop yield. We urge the government to provide targeted support in the form of affordable or subsidized fertilizers to ensure that even the less privileged farmers can improve their productivity and contribute to the state’s agricultural output.
“These measures will go a long way in supporting our local farmers, ensuring food security, and boosting the economy of Kano State. Avoiding these measures would lead to significant losses, as it has been occurring annually.”
The best month to plant tomatoes in Nigeria is between December and March. Planting tomatoes in the months of December, January, February and March will enable harvesting the commodity in the lean months of May – August. During the months of May to August, the prices of tomatoes reach their maximum level.
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