ABDULLAHI RABIU, Kano
PRESIDENT of National Producers of Onions Mr. Aliyu M. Isah, has said that that Nigeria has the capacity of producing 1.4 million metric tons of onion annually, while Nigerians demand for onion annually stood at 2.5 million metric tons.
Isah maitained that Nigeria use to realised over N700 billion in the onion business alone with the estimated production of over 14 million bags of onion yearly
Speaking during a Press Conference held at the NUJ Press Centre late in the evening on Tuesday the President said production of Onions which is the most loved spices in most Kitchens in Nigeria need to be accorded the needed priority by the government.
Isah maitained that the leadership of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to include its members into the CBN Anchor-borrowers Programme to enable them bridge the gap of consumption of onion in the Country.
The Onion Producers agued also agued that such gesture will ensure massive production for exportation, thereby, increasing the nation’s GDP.
NOPPMAN, National President was of the view that said Nigeria has the capacity of producing 1.4 million metric tons of onion annually, while Nigerians demand for onion annually stood at 2.5 million metric tons.
” the production capacity runs into 1.1 million metric tons deficit, he said the Association is forced to engage in exportation of onion to neighbouring countries, due to lack pf storage and processing facilities.”
He said lack of storage/processing facilities have forced onion producers/marketers to loosing over 60 to 70 per cent of their produce annually.
He said Nigeria use to make at least over N700 billion in the onion business alone with the estimated production of over 14 million bags of onion yearly.
Mr. Aliyu, however, called on the Federal government to open windows that will enable investors invest heavily into the onion business,
” I insist that such love will not only boost the nation’s economy, but also create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the Country.
He said NOPPMAN is is currently out championing a very serious campaign against the amount of waste and loses recorded by the Onions Producers in the North a development that stagnates progress.
” It is high time the government should step up efforts and come to the rescue of our people who are year in year our loosing in the Onions business as a resultof poor storage facilities.
