By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press-Nigeria Nigerian Onion famers have decried the more than 60 percent post harvest losses encountered every year.
The group is demanding for assistance for the construction of storage facilities to assuage the challenge.
The National Chairman of the Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Isah stated this during a chat with the Media in Kano as part of activities line up for the 4th regional Onion Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association held in Kano on Wednesday 3rd November 2021.
He said on annual basis Onion farmers in Nigeria encounter post harvest losses of more than 60 percent.
“The group is therefore, calling on the federal government to provide storage facilities for us as well as encourage those who would want to invest in the storage facilities.”
“At the peak of harvest, a farmer sells a bag of Onion at the cost of between N3,000 to N5,000 which is at a give away price because of the lack of storage facilities. The same bag goes for between N50,000 to N60,000 after five months. As at that time whoever stores the product would also lost between 70 to 80 percent of what was stored.”
“You can see why we cry for storage facilities. Currently Nigeria imports Onion powder from China, but we have them perishing here. Those who want to invest in this areas should be encouraged by the government,” said Isah.
He said Nigeria has the capacity to produce over 2.5 million metric tons of Onion annually but currently produces only 1.4 million metric tons of the product.
The Onion Producers chairman then called on then Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to include the Onion farmers in the folds of it’s Anchor Borrower Program, like done to Rice, wheat, Tomatoes and other farmers.
He equally made a case for the launched Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, ACFTA, to be properly implemented to further ease exportation of the product as there are usually delays in currency transfer through the CBN as well as hitches encountered at the border with Customs officials.
“Onion is a perishable item, sometimes we are delayed for a whole week while processing funds through the CBN and you know what that means. We lose a lot of the product because of the delay. If ACFTA is well implemented, the supply will be based on need and request from the country for the Onion. After supply, we will bring back to Nigeria products we do not have in Nigeria from that county without necessarily going through the CBN,” explained Isah.
He said Onion farming is greatly employing youths, especially in the northern part of the country as such those in the Agric-business should be encouraged.
Onion farmers charged to balance national requirements.
While addressing the Conference Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje called on onion farmers in Nigeria to rise to the current challenges and balance their production output of 1.5 million metric tonnes to meet the national requirement of 2.5 metric tonnes.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Nasiru Gawuna also expressed hope that the conference will derive methods by which onion production will be expanded through devising preservation, processing and proper marketing methods.
The 2-days conference with the theme: The Onion Sector in The Era Of The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) And T
he Covid -19 Pandemic Challenges And Opportunities, draws participants from the West and Central African subregions.
“We have discussed severally with the National president on the said challenges ,and we are going channel your request to the Federal Government as we are ready to do our part at State level to enhance production.
And we will support you in seeking intervention of the CBN for the onion farmers so that you will enjoy it as soon as possible” Ganduje stated.
Way Out for the Onion Farmers.
Professor Abdu Ahmed Manga is a Professor of Agronomy With Bayero University Kano.
Lecturer with
Depertment of Agronomy Bayero University.
Photo from Abba Sani
Manga Said Farmers in underdeveloped Countries like Nigeria suffered a lot of set back do to lack of preservation facilities.
The Professor stated that the condition of Onion Farmers in Nigeria is not different with other perishable farmers.
The Academician advised farmers to be prepared right from the beginning of the right from the beginning of the production process ,choice of the Onion seedling up to post harvest handling.
The Agronist said Onions that are red and brown are more safer during storage period as it resist different weather conditions than that are lights ,white and yellow.
Manga emphasized on the importance of Farmers to make right choice of Onion Seedling
The farmers Should allow the Onion to properly dry off before cutting the leaves as it help in making the product stay intact for a long period. Manga said.
Professor Manga suggested that Onion farmers should seek for loans from commercial Banks or through contributions through their Cooperatives and Association to purchase modern storage facilities instead of heavy reliance on Government for the materials needed which will add value to their business .
The Agriculturalist added that farmers should take their business serious as others that are in different production sectors that make all facilities available for the business to strive and make more profit.
