Nigerians spend about N100 billion annually on tomatoes, with a chunk of it spent on importation of the item. In 2012, Nigeria imported 65,809 tonnes of processed tomato worth over N11.7 billion. Whatever amount one invests in tomato farming, a triple return on investment is achievable within nine months.
Benefits
Tomato is an excellent source of good amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene. Tomato’s deep redness means it’s a very good source of antioxidant agents. It’s a powerful source of vitamin E and enhances the health and sharpness of the eyes. You can never go wrong with tomatoes as far as nutrition and health is concerned.
Growing tomatoes
Tomato farming is very simple. Anyone can do it in any capacity, either in the backyard or in commercial quantity. Tomato can be grown round the year, especially in places where there is irrigation system specifically made for it. In other places, it is best cultivated during the rainy season.
Nursery – This can be done around March/April when the rain is just beginning in most parts of the country. You can use your backyard for the nursery or any other piece of land that is suitable for it. Tomatoes do very well in most soil types in Nigeria but better in a black loose loamy soil. Prepare the ground by clearing the grasses and rubbles; loosen the soil with hand trowel and hoes. Remove the seeds from the tomatoes and spread it on the prepared soil. You can cover it with dry grasses to prevent the loss of moisture from the soil and prevent birds, ants and fowls from eating up the tomato seed. Within 5-7days you will see it germinating. Wait till about another five days before you remove the dry grasses to allow for proper growth. Leave it for another one month before transplanting.
Transplanting – The final journey will be moving it into the permanent farm where they would grow to maturity and production. Open the soil with piece of small wood, insert the seedling into the hole and cover it with lose soil. Tomato plant is very tender and fragile, it is best transplanted the same day you uprooted it from the nursery to avoid dehydration and fatigue.
Weeding and fertilization – Two months after transplant, it would be time for weeding. Ensure that your tomato plants are not damaged during the process of removing weeds. After the first weed, it is time to apply fertilizer to help replenish the soil nutrients taken by the weeds. To grow successfully, tomatoes need nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, potash, calcium, and magnesium, along with other trace minerals. Itfs always best to have your soil tested to check for nutrient levels and pH level. Use fertilizer that supplies those vital nutrients – N-P-K ratio fertilizer can be very good for tomatoes.
Harvesting – Tomato is harvested in batches, the moment you start harvesting, you’ll continue on weekly basis till the end of the season, usually it will keep producing till the dry season when the plant will die off due to the scorching heat. The first harvest starts within three months after planting. That means if you plant by April, you should be expecting your first harvest by June/July. From then, it will continue till November/December.
Green house production
Investment opportunites exist in greenhouse tomato production. This involves the installation of hundreds of units of greenhouse facilities of 8m by 24m size per unit with drip irrigation system that creates controlled environment for all season production of high quality pepper and tomato. Greenhouse technology offers a better alternative to the open field farming because of the effect of climate change and bacterial blight disease associated with open field tomato production. There is ready market for tomato and pepper in the country as well as potential for export. According to Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chairman, Efugo Farms, Nigeria spends $100 million (about N20 billion) annually to import tomato paste from China.
In a bid to encourage investment in green house tomato farming, the Ogun State government has promised to make land available for serious interested investors, with the State’s Ministry of Agriculture ready to share its experience with new comers and provide technical support to ensure successful take off of the project. Estimated Cost – Total Fixed Cost (Complete Greenhouse Kit, utilities, site preparation) – N2,366,000; Total Variable Cost (Labour & Technical Costs including soil sterilisation, Insurance (2 percent), Contingencies (10 percent)) – N858,000. Revenue: Expected yield (average 5.5MT), Price per tonne (N350,000)) – N1,925,000; Gross Marging per unit – N1,067,000; Return on Investment (RoI) – 33.1 percent; Payback period – 20 months
Marketing
Tomato is a perishable product and so it’s important to prepare a marketing well ahead of harvesting. Mile 12 is the major market for fresh tomatoes and other vegetables in Lagos. About 20 million people consume tomatoes almost on daily basis in Lagos alone. So, there is a huge market for tomatoes in Lagos. There are opportunities for big business and big money in this sector for smart entrepreneurs.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/making-money-from-tomato-farming/#sthash.AB9ioi5Q.dpuf
