NOPPMAN announces plans to expand Nigeria’s onion production

NIGERIA – The National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) has announced an ambitious plan to expand and rebrand its onion production to enhance market competitiveness both domestically and internationally.

At the association’s 4th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, NOPPMAN President Aliyu Maitasamu Isah revealed their collaboration with private organizations to establish onion processing companies.

Each company will have its own brand to capture market share locally and abroad. “With operational plants in Lagos and Sokoto, NOPPMAN is investing significantly in its Sokoto facility, valued at five million US dollars,” Isah stated.

Isah emphasized the importance of this expansion, highlighting its potential to increase onion production capacity significantly.

He outlined NOPPMAN’s goal of producing one thousand metric tons of onions, sourced from hundreds of thousands of bulbs, provided there is adequate government support, particularly in accessing credit resources.

“In addition to expanding production capacity, NOPPMAN aims to modernize its packaging for processed onions to meet evolving market demands,” he stated.

Isah stressed the need to increase onion production and storage facilities to minimize post-harvest losses. He suggested that the government assist by providing portable or small modern processing machines to empower youths and women in the onion business.

Isah highlighted the onion subsector’s potential to contribute substantially to Nigeria’s GDP, estimated at around 700 billion annually, encompassing both production and processing aspects. NOPPMAN’s efforts aim to harness this potential and solidify Nigeria’s position as a significant player in the global onion market.

Meanwhile, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Nuru Rimi, urged the association to enhance its production to bolster the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

Represented by the director of commodities and export, Mr. Kaura Irimiya, Rimi emphasized the importance of producing onion flakes for exportation. “By venturing into onion flakes production, we can tap into the export market. There is a growing demand for Nigerian onion products abroad due to their natural flavor,” he noted.

Rimi pledged to collaborate with the association’s leadership to improve onion packaging materials and branding.

“We need to enhance our packaging and branding strategies to ensure our commodities have a strong presence worldwide,” he added.

Highlighting the significance of exports in bolstering foreign exchange reserves, Rimi emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing onion importation levels.

In his goodwill message, the director-general of the Raw Materials, Research and Development Council of Nigeria, Engr. Emmanuel Kwaya, praised the association for its efforts in increasing onion production in Nigeria over the past three years.

“According to available data, onion production has surged from 244,000 metric tons in 2020 to approximately 1.5 million metric tons in 2022. This represents significant progress,” he remarked. Kwaya also affirmed the council’s support for improving storage facilities to minimize wastage and increase farmers’ benefits.

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