Benin, Edo – Mr Andrew Odihi-Ogiamen, an Agripreneur in Edo state, has encouraged youths in the state to explore tomato farming, citing its high profitability within the agricultural sector.

Odihi-Ogiamen, Edo state coordinator, Youth Wing of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), spoke in an interview on Thursday in Benin.

According to him, the climate in regions like Edo state is ideal for growing tomatoes which allows farmers to harvest multiple times a year.

“Due to the high price of garri in the market, many people are now going into cassava farming, but tomato farming is more lucrative.

“There is consistent high demand for tomatoes in Nigerian cuisine, which ensures a ready market for the produce.Tomatoes are a staple in almost every Nigerian meal, and the demand is always there.

“As we speak, the tomatoes being grown in the country cannot meet the demand; we want more people to go into tomato farming. Farmers don’t have to worry about finding buyers because there is a ready market for the produce.’’

He, however, urged prospective tomato farmers to learn about tomato cultivation before embarking on production.

“There are challenges of pests, diseases, and post-harvest losses. Farmers need to adopt good agronomic practices to mitigate these issues.Knowledge and the right practice can help us overcome these obstacles.’’

He added that youths’ involvement in farming could provide a sustainable and profitable livelihood.

Let’s take advantage of the opportunities in agriculture and transform our lives as well as contribute to the nation’s agricultural growth and food security.