L-R: Founder of Tomato Jos, Mira Mehta, Executive Secretary KADIPA Umma Aboki, US Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, CBN Godwin Emefiele, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Deputy Speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Yusuf Zailani at the groundbreaking event of Tomato Jos tomato processing factory
Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, today hosted the the groundbreaking ceremony for the tomato processing factory of Tomato Jos. The governor said that the Kaduna State welcomes the fact that processing facilities owned by private investors are being located across the state, and are complementing its ability as a foremost primary producer of food.
The event, held in Kangimi, Igabi Local Government Area, was witnessed by CBN governor Godwin Emefiele, US Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Beth Leonard and John Coumantaros, chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria.
Mira Mehta, founder and chief executive of Tomato Jos, said that her company intends to invest N10.25bn over five years in its farming, processing and marketing activities. This includes the N1.5bn already invested, and another N1.75bn earmarked for building and installing the processing facility in 2020. Mehta disclosed that Tomato Jos is already providing 2500 jobs and intends to put 3000 hectares under cultivation between it and its outgrowers, and that its processing facility will handle 80-100 metric tonnes daily.
Speaking at the event, Malam El-Rufai said it is the second groundbreaking event in 10 days for for an agriculture-related investment in the state.
“Ten days ago, on Friday, 17th January 2020, we were in Kubau Local Government Area to break ground for the Damau Milk Farm, our joint project with Arla Foods, designed as a pragmatic and sustainable solution to the security challenges that now accompany nomadic livestock production, create jobs and boost domestic production of milk and milk products.
“Today, we are excited that Tomato Jos is expanding its investment footprint in our state by taking a leap from growing tomato and other crops, to building a processing facility to make tomato paste. With its farm in Kangimi, in Igabi Local Government Area, Tomato Jos has already impacted on its community, creating jobs and empowering its outgrowers with modern farming techniques and a route to market.
“The Kaduna State Government welcomes this latest investment in the agricultural potentials of our state. Olam showed the way back in 2017, when President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the hatchery and feed mill project that this multinational sited in our Chikun Local Government Area.”
Governor El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is well-endowed with farming potential, with vast arable land and many water sources, and is the top producer of maize, ginger, sorghum and tomatoes.
He congratulated Mira Mehta for locating Tomato Jos in Kaduna, and responding with investments to all the support offered her company by the Kaduna State Government and its agencies. He wished her success “in growing this business and helping to deepen the position of Kaduna State as not only a major farming state, but also a significant location for agro processing businesses.”
The governor said the state welcomes the combination of primary production and industrial capacity that Tomato Jos investment signifies.
Malam El-Rufai noted that firms like Olam and Tomato Jos demonstrate why Kaduna State is ranked as the Number 1 place for doing business by the World Bank’s Doing Business Report.
“It is an accolade we are working hard to retain, not for popularity, but for the concrete results it brings in attracting and retaining new investments in Kaduna State.
“Our approach to business is to be an enabler and a facilitator of value-creation. It is imperative to encourage and support the private sector to create jobs, transfer skills and technology and contribute to public revenues. We have often said that our approach to business is simple: we are very friendly, and we become friendlier with those who create jobs and pay tax.”