The cost of manufacturing organic tomato paste in Nigeria is somewhat distinct from the cost of producing other varieties of tomato paste. As a consequence of this, there is not a great deal of interest in organic products in Nigeria. Growers of tomatoes in Nigeria are overcoming obstacles in production in order to enhance the quality and quantity of their products, as well as to more easily reach markets for their produce. Tomato farmers in Nigeria are experiencing an increase in yields and a reduction in post-harvest losses as a result of receiving agricultural advice, having access to quality seeds and fertilizers, and receiving training in appropriate agricultural techniques. 
When harvest time rolls around, there is such an abundance of tomatoes on the market that it becomes saturated. As a result, much of the product is ruined and unsalable, causing farmers to suffer enormous losses. Tomato Jos, on the other hand, is an agricultural production company that also operates as a social enterprise and trains smallholder farmers in the best methods for growing high-quality tomatoes that can be used to make tomato paste. Despite the fact that West Africa is responsible for producing 66 percent of the world's tomatoes, Nigeria is the largest importer of tomato paste in the world. There are not many tomato paste manufacturers in the country due to a variety of obstacles, one of which is the low quality of the tomatoes that are produced. Up to 1.5 million tons of fresh tomatoes are lost every year due to the fact that the majority of growers are unable to identify a primary buyer that is reliable. In 2021, Metha and her business partner Shane Kiernan purchased tomatoes for processing shortly after the harvest. Up to this point, the company has worked with approximately one hundred farmers in the middle belt of Nigeria, instructing them in optimal agricultural methods such as installing drip irrigation and preparing the soil for planting before planting. Growers that are trained to sell to Tomato Jo's routinely earn around five times more than what is earned on the local market, even when prices are lower during the high season. 
Organic tomato paste cost
According to what was stated earlier, the price of organic tomato paste is rather distinct from the price of conventional tomato paste. The business was established in Bandas, which is located in the state of Nasarawa; however, it has since relocated to a farm that spans 500 hectares in Kaduna which is located in the northeastern part of Nigeria. Tomato Jos is able to recognize obstacles that local farmers encounter on their farms, such as viral outbreaks, adverse weather conditions, and a lack of available water, and provide them with solutions that are both realistic and effective. The company is able to produce between 40 and 50 tons of tomatoes per hectare because they have adapted its production methods to address these issues. It's possible that these farmers are now producing seven tons of food per hectare, which is ten times the national average. If they use our methodology, we anticipate that they will achieve a yield of 30 tons per acre. Tomato Jos has more than twenty staff working full time, all of them are enthusiastic supporters of the agricultural production model utilized by Nigeria's smallholder farmers. Additionally, the younger members of the community used to assist with the distribution of water and fertilizer while working in the tomato fields. The company Meta made the announcement that it would begin production of tomato paste in April of 2020, and the brand was formally introduced in 2021. On the domestic market at this time, it is sold in quantities of 25 kg and 250 kg at a price per barrel that is 7500. Meta shared that "drums are sold to institutional buyers, whereas drums are marketed to small consumers," clarifying the distinction between the two types of customers. According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the business intends to grow its network of farmers in order to satisfy 10 percent of Nigeria's yearly demand for tomato paste, which is projected to be 200,000 tons. 
Organic tomato paste manufacturing cost
The cost tag associated with manufacturing organic tomato paste is very close to that of conventional paste. Because farmers do not have the resources to grow their crop area, the Dangote factory, which has a capacity of 1,200 tons per day for production, only produces at 20 percent of its capability. The expense of importing more than 200 million dollars' worth of pulp from China and the United States was meant to be reflected by the factory in Nigeria. In spite of this, the company was forced to close down its factories in 2021 as a direct result of widespread crop damage caused by pests. It was another two years before companies were able to resume production, and throughout that time there were arguments on how much money should be paid to farmers. According to Abdul Karim, "We are unable to process a sufficient quantity of tomatoes to ensure the success of our operations. " Keita is currently serving as the General Manager of the Dangote Tomato Processing Factory. "For the time being, we are assessing the damage." 
The predicament at the Dangote tomato plant is representative of the difficulties that many businesses are experiencing in the largest economy in Africa. Despite President Muhammadu Buhari's emphasis on increasing local production, banks are reluctant to lend money to farmers, despite the fact that the tomato farming industry employs over 200,000 people. In a nation that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, such political blunders, pervasive corruption, and racial and ethnic divisions have made it more difficult to make the investments that are necessary to create jobs. Since the Buhari administration made the announcement in October 2019 that it would close Nigeria's land borders with all of its neighbors, inflationary pressures have not subsided. This move was made with the intention of stimulating large-scale food production as well as curbing smuggling and the corruption that is related to it. According to Segun Ajayi Kadir, the General Manager of the Nigerian Manufacturers Association, the government's predicted achievements in supporting local industrialization will be undermined if there is not a clear roadmap for implementation and a realistic timeframe for proper growth. 
Organic tomato paste cost in Nigeria
Nigeria has a somewhat higher cost for organic tomato paste than the rest of Africa. As a result of the constraints brought in by the pandemic, Nigeria is currently emerging from the country's worst recession in forty years. According to the World Bank, however, sluggish recovery and rising levels of insecurity might contribute to rising levels of social tension. According to business owners, the crisis has been made worse by the decision of the central bank to keep the exchange rate at an artificially high level. As a result, sources of dollars have been depleted, and businesses have been forced to purchase dollars on the black market at a discount of forty percent. When there is no currency available, we reduce the amount of work we do. For instance, we used to operate a tomato processing facility, but we decided to shut it down. In spite of the fact that tomato paste is a staple in Nigerian cuisine, the majority of the country's supply comes from China. After opening its doors in the country's south only a year ago, the Shiva factory is anticipated to mark the beginning of a new era in Nigeria's production of its own ketchup, which will eventually replace more expensive ketchup that is imported from other countries, as officials continue to discuss the matter. According to the experts, the lack of dollars has also prompted the company to scale back its operations at other food companies, including those that mill flour, refine sugar, and refine vegetable oil. It was anticipated that the company's plant would assist the most populous country in Africa in cutting its annual tomato paste imports from China by 300 thousand tons. This is due to the fact that it is estimated that 900 thousand tons of tomatoes are lost annually due to a lack of storage and processing facilities. However, farmers are unable to supply the capacity that companies require in order to function at full capacity. 
Organic tomato paste manufacturing in Nigeria
The manufacturing of tomato paste of a particularly high standard has a long and storied history in Nigeria. Even though the plant is processing close to three hundred tons of organic fruit every single day, which is the largest output capacity it has seen since 2021, the plant is still struggling to stay in business. Keita mentioned that in order to operate at full capacity, it needed the same amount of power and overhead. Because the Central Bank of Nigeria has refused to provide dollars for imported tomatoes and has banned foreign purchases of tomatoes and 50 other products, tomato processors are also unable to import berries to make up for precarious domestic supplies. This is one of the reasons why domestic supplies are so precarious. The program contributed to an increase in inflation, which reached a four-year high of 25 percent in May. At the same time, tomato farmers were unable to secure adequate loans to boost production since banks were unwilling to grant loans for agricultural activities. This resulted in the farmers being unable to obtain sufficient loans to raise production. 
Bandits and armed kidnappers are also a problem for farmers in this area. Like rice, tomato sauce is one of the more expensive components of traditional Nigerian cuisine. Tomatoes are used in around one-fifth of the country of Nigeria's total vegetable consumption and are an essential component of many dishes, including stews, soups, homemade sauces, and rice. A survey that was conducted by PwC in 2018 found that Nigeria, with an annual production of 2.4 million tons of fresh tomatoes, is the second largest producer of fresh tomatoes in Africa. Ironically, the survey also found that the country in West Africa is the third largest importer of ketchup on the African continent. Between 2020 and 2021, the government spent approximately 365 million dollars yearly on ketchup imports. As a result, increased local tomato production was a significant consideration under the administration of President Buhari. Plans to lessen the nation's reliance on food imports from other countries. 
Organic tomato paste manufacturing
The manufacturing of organic tomato paste is becoming increasingly popular among a variety of businesses in this country. The most successful businesses in the country are certain that they can solve this supply problem. One of the most significant players in the rivalry is the Dangote group, which is led by Aliko Dangote, who is currently the richest man in Africa. It made an investment of twenty million United States dollars in the construction of a tomato processing plant in the northern suburb of Kano in March of 2016. It has been touted as a game-changing plant because it has an installed capacity of producing 1,200 tons of ketchup every single day. However, after involving over 5,000 farmers whose produce was purchased after the harvest, the plant shut down in 2017, restarted in early 2019, and struggled until it became fully operational in February of this year. This was after it had included the farmers. During the same time period, the food manufacturer Erisco Foods from Lagos launched a ketchup factory in Lagos in February of 2016, but they also closed it in November of the same year due to a lack of dollars needed to import machinery and equipment parts. 
The fifth was finished. Nigeria has emerged from its recession. Shiva's premium tomato products have been well received in South Africa since the company's start. Success on a global scale has been a major focus for the organization in recent years. We have faith in the ability of our products to meet the needs of our consumers because we have a firm grasp on those needs. With this integration, we can tell the world about our fantastic products. Customers all over the globe love our products. Please fill out the online form below, and a sales representative will get in touch with you during normal business hours to discuss how we can assist you in reaching your sales goals.