The Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria (TGAN) has decried the non-implementation of the Federal Government tomato development policy guidelines by the relevant government agencies causing the country to incur a loss of N10 billion [27.8 million USD] across the country in 2018 alone.
According to the Secretary General of the TGAN, Malam Sani Danladi-Yadakwari, the situation has imposed severe handicaps on both growers and processors with the immediate consequences that include the closure of two major factories, namely Dangote Tomato Processing Company Limited and Savanah Integrated Farm Limited.
This has led to the dependence of the country on imported tomato which is often smuggled into the country under suspect circumstances from China and other countries.