‘How we can meet 2.5m tons of local onion demand’

The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) has called for government intervention to increase the production of onion to close the 1.1 million metric tons of local demand deficit.

The President of NOPPMAN, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu-Isah, made the call while addressing newsmen at a press conference at the NUJ Secretariat in Kano on Tuesday.

He said the 1.4 million metric tonnes of onion currently being produced in the country annually was not enough to meet the demand of Nigerians, hence the call for increased production to meet the 2.5 metric tonnes required for local consumption.

The president, however, said the government’s support was needed to achieve the target and to enable the massive exportation of the commodity within Africa and beyond.

“We are producing 1.4 metric tonnes, but what we need is 2.5 metric tonnes. Apart from that, we are still exporting to other countries.

“So, we need support and empowerment from the government because we need to step up our production to meet the demand,” he said.

Alhaji Aliyu further said the major challenge they were facing in onion marketing was poor storage facilities which usually forced them to sell their products at giveaway prices, thereby bringing serious setbacks in the sector.