How can Nigeria change its tomato story?

Nigeria's tomato industry has long been a paradox, with the country being one of the leading tomato producers globally yet still heavily reliant on tomato paste imports. In a bid to address this challenge and secure food security for Africa's most populous nation, Vincent A. Egbe, the Managing Director and CEO of GB Foods, sat down with CNBC Africa to discuss the potential solutions. Egbe shed light on the value chain in Nigeria's tomato industry, highlighting key areas for improvement. One of the major hurdles facing the industry is low yield per farmer, with the average yield in Nigeria lagging significantly behind other top tomato-producing nations like China and the United States. To address this issue, Egbe emphasized the importance of investment in increasing yields, noting that Nigeria would require over 12 million metric tons of tomatoes annually to achieve self-sufficiency. GB Foods, with its extensive experience in tomato production in Spain, is keen on driving this transformation in Nigeria. Another critical challenge in the industry is post-harvest losses, which can amount to as much as 50% of the total production. Tomatoes are highly perishable and require immediate processing, presenting a logistical hurdle for producers. Egbe underscored the need for additional processing facilities across Nigeria to minimize post-harvest losses and increase value addition. GB Foods' entry into the Nigerian market in 2017 marked a significant commitment to local production and ingredient sourcing. The company's focus on tomato processing underscores its dedication to driving backward integration and achieving self-sufficiency in tomato production. Through a series of strategic investments, including the commissioning of processing facilities with varying capacities, GB Foods aims to ramp up production and eventually explore export opportunities. In collaboration with local farmers, the company has embarked on a capacity-building initiative to improve farming practices and enhance yields. By leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, GB Foods sees vast opportunities for expansion into other African markets. Egbe highlighted the importance of positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the regional trade landscape and expressed optimism about the country's potential to become a hub of agricultural excellence. As Nigeria gears up for increased trade integration within Africa, GB Foods remains committed to driving innovation and sustainability in the tomato industry, paving the way for a transformative shift in the country's agricultural landscape.