The contract was awarded to National Research Institute of Chemical
Technology (NARICT) in Zaria. In a statement
issued by the institute’s public relations officer, Aliyu Bala, said that
Katsina state is to provide N35 million for the project not N500 million.
“The
institute has a strong and smooth collaboration with the Katsina state
government. In the past we had established first Neem organic fertilizer and
Bio-pesticide production plant. We are now on the verge of establishing
Kenaf/Jute and tomato procession factories.
“The
institute and the state government agreed on N35 million project; N20 million
for building and N15 million for machineries as at March 2016, but due to
trends and inflationary rate witnessed in the country we had already written
the state government for review. Therefore, thereport in some quarters that we
have received the sum of N500 million is false and untrue.”
He said the
importance of the projects is for Nigerians to be consuming 100 per cent
indigenous Nigerian tomatoes unlike imported tomato paste that are 20 per cent
tomato and 80 per cent additives.
The Kenaf
Project, according to him, will provide jute and kenaf sacks for agricultural
sector and this will ensure acceptability of Nigeria agro-produce all over the
world.
Also, Mr. Aliyu Bello Abubakar, the Acting Chairman of Danja Local Government
Area, said on Saturday that the factory was one of the projects being executed
by Governor Aminu Masari.
“The Project has also reached 70 per cent completion, while the processing
machines will soon be installed in the Building,” he said
Mr Abubakar said that the establishment of the Tomato Paste Processing Company
was a blessing to the people of the Area.
He said that farmers in the area would no longer record post-harvest loses
due to lack of storage facilities.
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