HortiNigeria, a four-year programme funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja, has underscored the importance of adopting modern best practices in horticulture to enhance productivity and ensure food security in Nigeria.
Mr. Muhammed Idris, the Programme Director stated this during a visit to farms in Kaduna State, where farmers trained by the Dutch-backed initiative are anticipating bumper harvests of crops such as pepper, tomatoes, onions and okra.
The programme Manager said the project, which began in 2021, is a collaborative effort between the Nigeria government and the Netherlands is providing support in four states namely Kaduna, Kano, Uyo, and Ogun.
He said, the initiative aims at boosting farmers’ productivity and reduce post-harvest losses across the country.
Commending the Nigerian government for its efforts in upgrading irrigation schemes, Idris urged for more focus on this area as a key strategy to encourage dry season farming.
He also emphasized that a comprehensive value chain has been established for the trained farmers, linking them from farm to market.
“All aspects, from production to market, and even to the final consumer, are connected,
” We have input providers, crate producers, and processors. Wherever we go, we ensure inclusivity across the value chain,” Idris explained.
He further noted that SIMKAY Foods Limited, an off-taker in the value chain, plays a crucial role in significantly reducing or even eliminating post-harvest losses in Kaduna.
“Our goal is to ensure that we minimize waste, especially of vegetables like tomatoes, which are in short supply. We cannot afford to waste any produce,” he added.
During a courtesy visit to SIMKAY Foods Limited in Zaria, the Team Lead, Rejoice Amarachi Usim, expressed readiness to partner with the HortiNigeria project.
Usim revealed that the vegetable processing company operates with seven Local Government Area (LGA) aggregators who collect vegetables at various locations before transporting them to the company for processing.
Usim said that the company takes full advantage of the harvest season to process vegetables into powder form,onions, pepper, tomatoes, and okra while retaining 100% of their nutrients.
One of the tomato farmers in Ikara LGA, Kaduna State, Musa Suleiman, attributed his farm’s success to the training he received from HortiNigeria.
He shared that other farmers now come to learn from him, thanks to the improved techniques he has adopted.
“I am very happy with the progress of my farm. The training from HortiNigeria has significantly boosted my productivity.
“I am grateful for the training and the seeds provided. It’s encouraging to see other farmers learning from our success,” Suleiman said.
Similarly, a women’s group comprising 20 members under the “Gidam Duna Women Multipurpose Farmers” initiative showcased their thriving farms filled with pepper and tomatoes.
Krestnews reports that the group leader, Mrs. Mary Yakubu, called for the further upgrade to the irrigation system to support their dry season farming efforts, noting that vegetables flourish best during dry season period.