Ex-lawmaker urges Delta youths, women to cultivate tomatoes

Mr Paul Ukpe, tomatoes farmer in Delta, has urged women and youths in the State to take to tomatoes cultivation as a means of livelihood.

Ukpe, former member of Delta State House of Assembly, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday.

He said youths and women in the state should cultivate tomatoes because the soil in Delta “is suitable for it and farming a very lucrative business.’’

The farmer said that the people should take advantage of the suitability of the soil to grow the crop and make money instead of looking for unavailable white collar jobs.

According to him, 90 per cent of the tomatoes consumed in the country were produced in the northern part of the country.

The former lawmaker, however, said that a greater percentage of the product was consumed in the southern part and an indication that there was enough market for tomatoes in the south.

He said: “I see no reason why the crop would not do better in the southern part of the country where we have an abundance of water.

“Our women and youths should embrace agriculture especially tomatoes cultivation. Agriculture has the potentials of engaging most people in the society.”