The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to ban tomato paste importation before the end of this year, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, has said.
Addressing tomato farmers at Dangote Tomato Processing Firm in Kadawa, Kura Local Government in Kano yesterday, Ogbeh said the ban was aimed at encouraging massive production of tomato by local farmers, Daily Trust reports.
He said the government would invest N250bn in the Bank of Agriculture to help farmers with loan facilities.
Nigeria has relied on European countries, especially Italy for tomato paste importation for years and this move, if implemented, will serve as a boost to the economy of the nation and that of tomato farmers across the country
