An Agriculturist, Amb. Oluwasegun Alab, has disclosed that Nigeria incurs a daily loss of N50 million from importing pineapples, despite being the eighth largest producer globally with an annual output of approximately 1,607,200 metric tons. During a press briefing at the National Assembly, Alabi highlighted the irony of Nigeria importing pineapples from Ghana and Togo, ranked 13th and 16th by the Food and Agricultural Organisation, due to the country's inability to meet its pineapple demand, which is only half satisfied.
Alabi pointed out the challenges in the Nigerian pineapple industry, including the failure to meet the required standards for industrial use because of non-compliance with good agricultural practices, resulting in subpar fruit quality. This issue, along with the lack of proper processing facilities, hinders Nigeria from exporting value-added products like canned pineapples and concentrated juice, thereby excluding the country from the global market.
Despite pineapples being the fifth most consumed fruit worldwide and having a demand that consistently exceeds supply, Nigeria's agricultural sector has not fully capitalized on this. The inconsistency in produce quality, stemming from outdated farming practices and lack of access to modern resources, has been a significant barrier. Alabi also mentioned the versatility of pineapples, now known for their potential in producing clothing, biofuel, and more, emphasizing the global demand increase.
He stressed the importance of government intervention to create a conducive environment for private sector growth and to address food security by engaging knowledgeable individuals and organizations within the agricultural sector. "We urge the government to create an enabling environment that fosters business growth and allows the private sector to thrive," Alabi stated, highlighting the potential for Nigeria not only to satisfy its domestic demand but to emerge as a leading exporter on the global stage.
Source: The Nation