GBfoods, one of the largest food processing Companies in the World, commissioned its N20 billion tomato factory, in Kebbi State. The project was in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kebbi State Government and the Emirate of Yauri.
This state of the art tomato processing factory will convert fresh tomatoes into tomato concentrate. The concentrates will be used for producing some of its Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs); the likes of Gino Tomatoes Paste and Gino Tomato Pepper Onion Paste. The soya bean will process soya-bean oil which is a major ingredient for GBfoods’ Bama and Jago Mayonnaise.
See Also: How to start rice farming business in Nigeria.
What Nigeria Stands To Gain
The project is in sync with Nigeria’s food security agenda, which is a great milestone for the addressable market. The Country Manager, Vincent Egbe said, “It further demonstrates the company’s commitment towards helping Nigeria achieve its food security ambitions, in this case, of self-sufficiency in tomato concentrate production”.
This is a welcome development for the agriculture sector. More so, this will at the least reduce the pre and post-harvest losses that tomato farmers experience on a daily basis.
The Country Manager also said, “Over the past three years, in the three states of Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi, GBfoods has worked with smallholder out-growers to boost their incomes by providing seedlings, fertilizers, training, and irrigation pumps. Further, to reduce post-harvest losses GBfoods also provided free plastic crates to farmers.”
Equally important, are the pecks that come with the project, ranging from fertigation infrastructure, seed planting robots, and drip irrigation. It also, includes greenhouses, incubation chambers, and lots of agricultural machinery. There will be production of industrial tomato in dry season while soya beans will be produced during the raining season.
Also, It will amaze you to know that, this tomato processing factory which is the second-largest in Nigeria and the only fully backward integrated plant in ECOWAS, will have a direct impact on over 5,000 smallholder farmers as out-growers.
More About GBFoods
Gino, which is one of the popular brands of GBFoods, is a well-established brand in Nigeria. Also, they have a wide range of quality products that make the daily lives of many African families easier. The product cuts across the food processing industry which includes, tomato mix, taste enhancers, among other products.
With the aim of satisfying local culinary habits and preferences in terms of flavours, GBfoods brings you the fantastic Bama mayonnaise for the most exquisite palates.
Also, the Jago brand offers a wide range of dairy products such as milk powder, mayonnaise, and other quality products. The aim is to continue to offer the best ingredients for Nigerian cuisine.