Where Are Akwa Ibom Homegrown Tomatoes?

By UbongAbasi Ise

A recent visit to popular Akpan Andem market in Uyo by our correspondent reveals that things have not changed much in the area of tomato production in Akwa Ibom State as popularly believed. Contrary to various reports that the state is almost self-sufficient in the berry fruits with minimal dependency on Northern Nigeria, it becomes probable that the state still looks outside to meet its demand. In their interaction with The Sensor, Akpan Andem market traders dealing in tomatoes and other vegetables said they still look up North to keep the business going.

A tomato seller, Mrs. Adiaha Udo-Okon, said that although farmers have made concerted efforts to intensify production of tomatoes in the state, in recent times, the state is still far from being self-sufficient not to talk of exporting tomatoes to other part of the country. She said that majority of Akwa Ibom traders still go to buy from Northerners. She added that the homegrown tomatoes are not of commercial quantity otherwise it would have reduced the state’s over-dependency on the northern tomatoes.

Another trader, who preferred anonymity, said that throughout her years in vegetables business, she has never bought Akwa Ibom State grown tomatoes for sale as they are not cultivated to reach commercial scale. She claimed that she has suppliers in Benue State that constantly supply her with the commodity.

But another business woman in the market, who simply gave her name as Ima, said that she used to sell some Akwa Ibom tomatoes late last year, but now they have disappeared from the stalls wondering whether the tomato cultivation is no longer taking place. The trader was of the opinion that sustainable increase in tomato production in the state would have eased the stress of having to travel to the north on regular basis and would have also helped in bringing down, considerably, the high price of the produce.

Notably, Akwa Ibom Enterprise and Employment Scheme (AKEES) has been very active in the planting of tomatoes and other 21 high income yielding vegetables. Months ago, Elder Ufot Ebong, who is the Senior Special Adviser to Akwa Ibom State governor on Bureau of Technical Matters and Due Process as well as AKEES coordinator, led group of journalists to farmlands formed under AKEES Farm Base programme. The exercise was to showcase the achievement of AKEES in agro sector. Some of the major farmlands visited include 2.5 hectares tomato garden along Airport Road, Uyo; 2.3 hectare vegetable garden at Ibiaku Obio Ndobo in Uruan; 8 hectares tomato garden in Mbak Etoi; and the nursery farms at Osong Oma Estate, Uyo. Elder Ufot Ebong said that the specie cultivated in the farms include Roma Red, Cobra and Tolga which were of superior quality to those brought into the state from Northern Nigeria. He revealed that characteristics of ‘AKEES tomatoes’ include thicker skin, lesser quantity of seeds and less water content. Ebong further said that each stand of the tomato could yield the minimum of 60 fruits. Given these positive indications, the question is: has Akwa Ibom really deserved a good scorecard in tomatoes productivity?

Indeed, Akwa Ibom may not achieve much in tomato cultivation if major fundamental questions are not practically addressed. Speaking with Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dennis Etong, our correspondent gathered that the weather remains a major setback facing tomato cultivation in the state as tomato plant does not tolerate too much of water content in the soil. While saying that most soils in Akwa Ibom State are highly acidic, Etong stressed that majority of farmers in the state are not cultured towards soil testing and they would waste their efforts in cultivating tomatoes at where they would experience poor growth.

AFAN Chairman maintained that not every variety of tomatoes can survive diseases while noting that nematodes, being the common form of tomato infection in the state, are posing serious threat on tomato cultivation in the state.

As the state government has expressed intention recently to establish tomatoes processing factories in the state, efforts should be made to boost tomatoes cultivation because without raw tomato fruits those factories would not function optimally. Farmers should be encouraged in a way that would help them increase their current acreage for more tomatoes cultivation.

You can send SMS to UbongAbasi Ise on 08189914609 | @ubongabasi_ise

Culled From The Sensor Newspaper Agric Suite