From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
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.
They also argued that such gesture will ensure massive production for exportation, thereby, increasing the nation’s GDP.
The National President of NOPPMAN, Mr. Aliyu M. Isah, told journalists at Kano Press Centre 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.
Even though 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 added that annually, Nigeria makes over N700 billion in the onion business, 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, insisting that such love will not only boost the nation’s economy, but also create job opportunities.
