As Onion is being processed into different forms for export and local consumption, Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has called for the establishment of small, medium and large scale processing plants to boost the production of the vegetable crop.
He made the call on Wednesday while addressing participants of the 4th regional onion conference at Kano Government House.
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Dr.Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said Kano being the 3rd largest onion producing state in the country and having one of its biggest markets in the continent, his administration is working alongside the farmers in the state to enhance their production.
He said this is because of the importance of onion as a vegetable crop, whose distinctive flavour and health benefits are appreciated by people around the globe.
“Because of our commitment towards promoting the value chain of onion, we are facilitating ways for the farmers to source for funds that will launch them into big processors and exporters he said”.
Ganduje went on to describe the event as a milestone and expressed appreciation to the organisers for the honour done to Kano to host the conference.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr.Mahmood Abubakar represented by Abba Gana Yamani said the importance of onions in the Nigerian diet can never be underestimated, adding that the ease of cultivating the crop makes it a lucrative venture for farmers.
“Nigeria is among the largest producers of onions in the world, in 2012 alone, an estimated 240,000 tonnes of green onions and 1,350,000 tonnes of dry onions were produced in Nigeria the Minister revealed”.
Speaking earlier the President of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Maitasamu Isa explained that only 1,400,000 million tonnes of onions were produced instead of 2,500,000 million tonnes.
He called for an increase in the production of the vegetable crop.
He said the conference with the theme: “The Onion sector in the era of the African continental free trade area and the COVID-19 pandemic” is aimed at developing a business plan for onion trade within the West and Central African Economic Community and also to harmonize and fashion ways of continued business despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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