The President and Chief Executive of Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric Umeofia has called on the Federal Government to ban the importation of tomato paste into the country in order to encourage domestic manufacturing companies to invest in agriculture.
He stated during the commissioning of a tomato processing plant, the first in Africa and fourth in the world, that domestic processing of tomato paste would ensure the consumption of fresher and healthier tomato by Nigerians.
According to Umeofia, Erisco Foods revolution in tomato paste would stop the 75per cent annual waste in fresh tomatoes across the country, adding that “Erisco would employ over 9000 Nigerians if substandard tomato paste was not allowed to be dumped in Nigeria.”
He stressed the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to encourage commercial banks to support the practical diversification of the economy through the introduction of low interest rates.
About Abdallah el-Kurebe
An Investigative/Science Journalist; member, Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture; member, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE); member, African Federation of Science Journalists (AFSJ); member, International Center for Journalists (ICFJ); member, Media Professionals Worldwide (MPW); member, African Media, Between the Covers Editing and Proofreading; member, Nigeria Media Network; member, Global Journalism Network; member, World Federation of Science Journalists. Media Fellow for Biosciences for Farming in Africa; member, Nigeria Association of Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ); member, Pan-African Association of Agricultural Journalists (PAAJ); member, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN); member, National Implementation Committee (NIC) of CBN/RIFAN - Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), Nigeria.
AWARDS:
1. B4FA Best Body of Work -In Depth Coverage Award;
2. Finalist, OFAB Nigeria Media Awards 2017
3. Best Agric Biotech Reporter (Print), OFAB Nigeria Media Awards 2017
4. 1st Runner-up (Print & Online Category) OFAB Africa Media Awards (OMAS) 2017
View all posts by el-Kurebe
I like that idea of tomatoes paste.
LikeLiked by 1 person