Nigeria’s National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association reported that Nigeria produces two million metric tons of onions annually, with 40% being Sokoto’s total production.
This was said by the President of the association, Isah Aliyu Maitasamu, during the weekend’s commissioning of the country’s first factory for processing onions and garlic, in Sokoto.
“Nigeria produces about 2 million metric tons of onions each year, with Sokoto State accounting for 40% of the total output.”
He claimed that despite being one of the top producers of onions and garlic in the world, Nigeria still imports onion flakes because the country lacks a processing facility, which is harmful to farmers.
According to the annual estimate, Nigeria generated more than N700 billion worth of onions, but post-harvest losses caused 40 to 50 percent of that money to be lost.
“This is a result of the farmers’ lack of access to suitable and efficient storage and processing facilities.
“However, I applaud the efforts of the brain behind the factory, particularly in Sokoto State, and the immediate environment will benefit greatly from it.”
Earlier, speaking on behalf of the Director General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Engineer Emmanuel Kwaya, stated that the factory’s commissioning represents a significant turning point for Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
“As we inaugurate the first entirely native onion and garlic flakes processing facility. I am happy that this plant was created by Nigerian engineers in response to the Council’s request to lessen the ongoing post-harvest losses related to onion and garlic.
“I salute the collaborators and financiers who helped bring this idea to fruition. They have demonstrated their belief in Nigerians’ capacity for achievement and have taken proactive measures to ensure that our R&D findings on the processing of onions and garlic are used to their fullest advantage. I implore other investors to take note of their lead.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed his appreciation for the investment through the District Head of Sokoto-North, Alhaji Malami Maccido, assuring them that the Sultanate Council would continue to support farmers in the region.
