Meet Mira Mehta: The Woman Transforming Nigeria’s Tomato Industry.

Mira Mehta is an entrepreneur and the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tomato Jos, an agricultural company working to transform Nigeria’s tomato industry through local farming, processing and the empowerment of smallholder farmers.

Her journey into agriculture began after she witnessed a major tomato glut in Northern Nigeria. During one of her trips, she saw enormous quantities of tomatoes lying along roadsides, with farmers struggling to preserve their produce because market prices had fallen drastically.What caught her attention was the contradiction between Nigeria’s ability to produce large quantities of tomatoes and its dependence on imported tomato paste. She recognised an opportunity to address the problem by developing a local tomato processing business that would benefit farmers and consumers.

Mehta, who previously worked with the Clinton Health Initiative, began researching the agricultural sector and later developed the business idea while studying for her MBA at Harvard Business School.In 2014, she co-founded Tomato Jos with Shane Kiernan, initially establishing operations in Panda, Nasarawa State. The company later relocated its operations to Kaduna State in 2017.

Building the business was not easy. The company faced challenges ranging from water shortages and tomato diseases to inadequate infrastructure and the difficulties of establishing a reliable agricultural supply chain. Rather than immediately investing heavily in a processing factory, Mehta focused on improving tomato production and helping farmers achieve better yields through modern agricultural techniques.

Tomato Jos introduced improved farming methods, irrigation systems, technical training and access to quality agricultural inputs. The company also developed a model that supports smallholder farmers by providing agricultural guidance and offering a reliable market for their produce.A major milestone came in March 2021 when the company successfully processed its first tomato paste at its factory in Kaduna State. By 2022, it had launched its packaged tomato products into the Nigerian market.

Today, Tomato Jos operates as an integrated agricultural business, combining tomato cultivation, processing, packaging and distribution.Beyond producing tomato paste, the company has made supporting rural farmers a central part of its mission. It works with farmers to improve productivity, increase their earnings and create more sustainable livelihoods.

Women are also an important part of its agricultural programme. According to Mehta, close to 60 per cent of the farmers participating in the company’s programme are women. The additional income they earn has helped some invest in land, establish small businesses, improve their homes and support their children’s education.The company has also invested in expanding its irrigated farmland and strengthening its farming operations to support more local producers.

Despite its progress, Tomato Jos continues to face challenges, particularly competition from cheaper imported tomato paste, production costs and the need to achieve greater economies of scale.Nevertheless, Mehta remains committed to building a sustainable tomato industry that connects Nigerian farmers with local processing facilities and consumers.

Her work demonstrates how entrepreneurship, agricultural innovation and investment in local production can help address food supply challenges, create employment and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural economy.Through Tomato Jos, Mira Mehta is helping to demonstrate that Nigeria can do more than grow tomatoes; it can also process, package and develop them into competitive locally manufactured products.

Her journey is an example of how identifying a problem and developing a practical solution can create opportunities for farmers, businesses and the wider Nigerian economy.