Dizengoff Nigeria, a member of the Balton CP Group, recently conducted a two-day training for farmers and entrepreneurs in and around Lagos, on the use of its greenhouse technology for fresh vegetable production.
The training, which was organised for some private farmers in the state, was both in theory and field demonstration, focusing on the production and post-harvest management of vegetables such as tomatoes, pepper and cucumber using the greenhouse technology.
Patrick Ohaji, divisional head, Dizengoff Nigeria, explained during the training – “the concept of the Dizengoff greenhouse technology otherwise called ‘Dizengoff Farmers Kit’ is aimed at providing farmers with an all year round technique to produce and increase the yields of greenhouse crops such as tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet-melon as well as provide steady incomes for the farmers. It also involves transfer of knowledge to the farmers to improve the quality of their produce, reduce field losses and ensure higher profits.”
Presently, a number of farmers who have adopted the Dizengoff Farmer’s Kit are already enjoying high productivity from the system and most of them believe that with the increased demand of such crops in the market, the Kit, which is now widely being adopted, will help meet these rising demands.
Speaking further, Ohaji stated that “the goal for us at Dizengoff Agric. is to ensure increased yield of vegetable products and for consumers to have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at affordable price while guaranteeing higher income and profitability for farmers.
In countries like Israel and Kenya, where agriculture has helped to develop their economy, have over the past few years depended on the Greenhouse technology for bountiful agriculture yield and post-production management.
The participants who are mainly upcoming horticultural business entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprise farm operators, all expressed their delight with the technology after the training including visiting the Dizengoff demonstration farm.
Dizengoff believes in the current efforts by the Federal and State governments towards encouraging a private sector-led agribusiness initiative, which is what the Dizengoff Farmer’s Kit is providing especially jobs for the youth and income for the horticultural farmers, thus laying the foundation for a sustainable horticultural production system in Nigeria.
In line with the theme of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Africa Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and ImprovedLivelihoods through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development” the resolve by the African leaders is to end the scourge of hunger and poverty in the continent of Africa by 2025.
Therefore, for Nigeria to truly revolutionise its agricultural sector and eradicate the dangers posed by poverty, malnutrition and hunger, she needs to start developing the sector, using Greenhouse technology, with active participation of government, NGOs, private sector and smallholder farmers.
