To enhance food production in Nigeria, HortiNigeria, a Dutch-funded program under the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), hosted a free workshop on tomato cultivation for youths across Oyo State. The workshop, held in Ibadan to mark the United Nations International Youth Day, gathered young agripreneurs from the region.
HortiNigeria, a four-year initiative established by the Dutch and Nigerian governments, aims to build a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector in Nigeria. The program is implemented by a consortium led by IFDC, along with East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT), Wageningen University and Research (WUR), and the KIT Royal Tropical Institute.
Benedict Ukpulpen, in his overview, outlined the program’s four components: increasing productivity and income, piloting production system innovation, facilitating access to finance for MSMEs, and enhancing sector coordination through business-to-business linkages. He noted that the program supports smallholder vegetable farmers in adopting eco-efficient and climate-smart practices, while also piloting innovative technologies with 2,000 young farmers in Oyo and Ogun states.
Oyo State Project Communication Officer for Youth in Agribusiness (YAS) at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Mr. Babatunde Ajaja, highlighted the importance of youth in driving Africa’s agricultural future. Ajaja stressed the need for continued youth empowerment to address the mismatch between Africa’s growing population and its high food import bill.
Ajaja also noted that despite the vast land resources in the South-West, the region still heavily relies on the North for tomato supply. He emphasized the need to harness the energy and creativity of Nigerian youths to revolutionize the agricultural sector.
Keynote speaker Ms. Kamilat Balogun provided insights into the technical aspects of tomato production, including seed and land selection, transplanting, and pest control. Agripreneur Mark Olusegun and Mr. Olufemi Odusanya, representing the Mile 12 International Market chairman, offered advice on nutrient supply, storage systems, and marketing practices to maximize tomato yields and profits.
Interactive sessions allowed participants to engage with experts, seeking clarification and advice on various aspects of tomato production and agribusiness.
