From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has advised National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) to take advantage of the intervention programmes initiated by the Federal Government so as to enhance more production and processing of onion in the country.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, gave the advice when members of the NOPPMAN paid a visit to him at the Govt House, Kano on Tuesday.
Ganduje, who assured the association of his administration’s commitment towards promoting the value chain of onion and other commodities, also pledged continued support, cooperation and collaboration to them because of their importance to the building of a prosperous state.
In a statement by Hassan Musa Fagge, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, GBsuje said, right from the moment he assumed office, Kano State had supported the programmes initiated by the Federal Government led by President Muhammad Buhari which made diversification of agriculture one of its goals.
He said Onion is a perishable vegetable which must be exploited to boost the nation…In Kano we have Onion markets due to realising the importance of vegetables to the economy,before our farmers have been suffering alot in the area of post harvest losses, now with new innovations through technology especially the storage methods that has become a thing of the past.
In his remarks, the President of the Association, Comrade Aliyu Maitasamu Isa in his speech said the purpose of the visit was to intimate him about their Regional International Onion Conference coming up in Kano later in November this year.
“The Conference is a collaborative effort of the regional observatory for onion in West and Central Africa and our association aimed towards looking at the impacts of the African free trade area (AFTA) he said”.
He also explained that Nigeria’s Onion being one of the best in the world because of its strong pungency is exported to many countries such as France,Japan,India,Niger Republic,Ghana and a lots more.
