Steps To Start Tomatoes Business In Nigeria

Here in this post, we are going to bring to you Steps To Start Tomatoes Business In Nigeria. We hope you find this information educating and informative.

By statistics, Nigerians consume up to 1.5 million tons of fresh tomato and they are also graded as the largest importer of tomato paste in Africa.

More notable companies are also joining the tomato and paste business, hence making the demand for fresh tomato high.

Read Also: 7 Steps to Start Commercial Tomatoes Production in Nigeria

With these statistics, don’t you think it is a good idea for one to start a tomato business here in Nigeria? As a matter of fact, whoever that ventures into this business will cover miles within months with a huge income.

The amazing thing about tomato is that it can be used to prepare virtually every meal in Nigeria, increasing the rate at which people demand it.

Many people are doing the business locally by planting it at their backyard while others do engage in commercial tomato farming.

Another amazing thing about tomato business is that you don’t need much capital to start it. With minimal cash, you can start up the business. I am here to give you step by step guideline with which you can start the tomato business in Nigeria.

Read Also: 6 Problems of Tomatoes Production in Nigeria

Ways To Start Tomato Business In Nigeria

There are different ways to run this business. In this article I am going to show the different ways, then you can make a choice out of the whole options.

1. Planting And Selling The Tomatoes

You can start planting the tomatoes and sell the proceeds to people that need it. You can decide to sell wholesale to retailers that will sell in small quantities. You can sell to factories that produce tomato paste and big restaurants that cook a large quantity of food.

2. You Can Buy the tomatoes and sell them too

If you cannot cope with the stress of farming, you can as well buy the tomatoes and sell to people that need them. There are some that use tomatoes in large quantity but do not have the chance or opportunity of going to buy; you can identify such individuals and supply them with the ones you buy.

3. You Can Venture Into Dried tomato business

Tomatoes have a season and when it is out of season, it becomes difficult to get and costly too. In such a period, you can venture into dried tomatoes. You can get fresh tomatoes when it is in abundant and dry them, then start selling them when it is scarce.

Read Also: 8 Economic Importance of Tomatoes in Nigeria

4. You can as well go into Tomato paste production

This involves packaging and selling tomatoes to people in a fresh way You grind fresh tomatoes and process them in tins and sell to the public.

There are some other things you need to know about tomatoes business before you delve into it and one of them is paying close attention to the rules that govern cultivation. These rules contribute to making your tomatoes business lucrative if you adhere to them.

The Rules That Helps In Tomato Farming

1. Get a Land

Before you go into farming, you would, first of all, get land where you will plant your seed. Before you pick a land make sure it is a place that is fertile and will promote the growth of tomatoes.

A place that is sunny and well-drained is the best for tomatoes. Even if it is your backyard make sure it is well-drained and sunny too.

2. Get Your Land Prepared

After getting the land, the next is to get it prepared. You do this by removing unwanted grasses (weeds) on the land after which you make soil beds.

After this, apply organic fertilizer on the land and water the land for some days. Also, make sure you have a good water supply system.

The acidity or alkalinity of the soil which is the PH level should be between 6.0 to 6.8; don’t let it go above or beyond that level so that it will not affect the growth of the tomatoes.

Read Also: How Profitable is Tomatoes Farming in Nigeria

3. Get Tomato Seeds and Plant

After preparing the land, the next is to get tomato seed and plant. These seeds come in a sachet sealed with necessary instructions on how to use it.

It should be easy to follow but in a case where you encounter any difficulty, you can ask people that are already in the business to guide you. Ministry of Agriculture is a very good place where you can get the seedling and experts’ advice.

Tomato seed is a tropical plant so any temperature that is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit would kill it or even make it not to germinate at all. It needs at least 60 degrees and 80 degrees to germinate so you need to keep it within room temperature.

The best period to plant tomatoes is in March or April, which is when the rain is starting to fall and there is also heat.

You, first of all, plant them in a nursery where they will be exposed 4 hours daily to the sun because of their tenderness.

4. Relocate Your Tomato

When the tomato seed grows to a certain stage, then it is time to transfer it to another place. This should take place when the plant has grown to 3 or 4 inches in the nursery. The temperature for this process should be about 50-degrees.

Steps To Take Before Transplanting

There are definite steps to take before the transplanting.

1. Dig a hole in your tomato bed. The hole should be deeper than the one on the nursery bed. There should be space between the tomatoes to avoid the spread of disease and for them to grow well.
2. Remove the tomato plants one by one from the nursery bed and gently lose the root

Plant the tomatoes in the holes you dug in the bed

1. Gently use the soil to cover the root allowing only the leaves to show.
2. Water the seed.

Getting The Tomatoes Matured

Tomatoes have different times of maturity depending on the type planted. The average period of maturity is 65 – 90 days. Before this period, ensure that you do the necessary things that will enable it to mature.

When watering, it should touch the soil and not the leaves and it should be done every 5 – 7 days. Try to avoid soil burn diseases that could affect the growth of the plant.

You should plant the tomatoes at intervals so that all of them will not mature at the same time.

Acquire Knowledge

You don’t need to be isolated to make it in the tomatoes farming business; you have to get acquainted with those already in the business. Ask them questions and learn from them. You can also go online and read about tomatoes farming business and how people made it in that field.

Read Also: Tomatoes Cultivation and Its Potential in Nigeria

Know The Types of Tomatoes

There are different species of tomatoes. It is a good thing you get to know them so you know how to handle each one and the one that is suitable for your customers depending on their needs.

1. Cherry Tomatoes: This is good for making salads and snacks. The fruit of this type of tomatoes is small so it is always the first to mature.
2. Beefsteak Tomatoes: This is one of the biggest and it has a very great flavor. Some people take it like apple and it is very good in making sandwiches.
3. Sauce Tomatoes: This is also called Roma and it has lower water content. Because of its low water content, it lasts more than others. Most people start their tomato farming with this type of tomato.

Conclusion

Tomato business in Nigeria can never be overemphasized as it will continue to yield whether your business is small or big scale. You just have to ensure that you follow the best tomato farming practice to be able to succeed.

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