By Michael Agbaji
The Chief Executive Officer of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited, Ambassador Segun Alabi says Nigeria the 8th largest producer of pineapples globally but yet Nigeria imports the commodity from neighbouring countries like Ghana and Benin Republic.
According to him,Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistics Database shows that with estimated total of 1,607,200 metric tons per annum, by comparison, Ghana ranks 13th with estimated total of 678,079 metric tons per annum, and Cotonou (Republic of Benin) is 16th with estimated total of 472,514 metric tons per annum.
Amb.Alabi is worried on how Ghana and Cotonou produce less
than what Nigeria produces annually but yet Nigeria still imports pineapple from these two countries because “our produce is 50% less than our consumption, which makes us depend largely on importation of pineapple”.
Ambassador Alabi stated this on Monday in a lecture titled: ‘Revolutionizing Agriculture in Nigeria through Pineapple Farming- A new phase of Agriculture held in Abuja.
He observed that despite the growing global demand for pineapples, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has yet to fully tap
into this opportunity, saying one of the key challenges is the inconsistency in the quality of produce, stemming from outdated farming practices.
“Many Nigerian farmers lack access to modern knowledge, resources, and infrastructure required to meet international standards. Consequently,
our pineapples often fail to meet export-quality benchmarks, resulting in economic losses and limiting Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market”.
Speaking on the way forward, the CEO of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited said by focusing on pineapples farming, Nigeria can diversify its economy, and reduce dependence on oil exports by becoming the world’s largest pineapple producer.
“Pineapple farming will drive the development of roads, processing
plants, and storage facilities.
“Enhance Access to Finance; Pineapple farming can attract foreign investment and government support.
“Reduce Post-Harvest Losses; Investments in preservation and processing will minimize
waste. With investments in preservation and processing facilities, post-harvest losses can be minimized, ensuring that more produce makes it to the market, both domestically and
internationally, among others.
He added that “pineapple is the 5th most consumed fruit in the world, and it holds a unique position as one of the
luxury produce items in the global market. The demand for pineapples consistently exceeds the
supply, making it a highly lucrative crop”.
