By Christiana Ekpa
Agriculturist and CEO of Davidorlah Farms, Amb. Oluwasegun Alabi, on Monday, revealed that Nigeria loses a staggering N50 million daily to pineapple importatio, despite the country producing 1,607,200 metric tons of pineapples annually, making it the 8th largest producer globally.
Alabi who disclosed this while briefing Newsmen in Abuj, emphasized that Nigeria’s comparative advantage in pineapple production is being undermined by imports from Ghana and Togo, ranked 13th and 16th respectively.
He noted that local production only meets 50% of domestic demand, with the country failing to capitalize on high demand from Asian markets.
The agriculturist attributed the subpar quality of Nigerian pineapples to farmers’ failure to adopt good agricultural practices, making them unsuitable for export and industrial use.
He also highlighted the lack of proper processing facilities, hindering the export of value-added products like canned pineapples and pineapple concentrated juice.
Alabi stressed that pineapple is the 5th most consumed fruit globally, with a lucrative market due to consistent demand exceeding supply.
However, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has yet to tap into this opportunity, hindered by outdated farming practices and limited access to modern resources and infrastructure.
He urged the government to create an enabling environment for business growth and engage experts in the agricultural sector to address food security challenges and capitalize on Nigeria’s pineapple production potential.
He said “With vast, fertile land, Nigeria has the potential not only to meet its domestic pineapple demand but also to become a leading global exporter. However, despite favorable climatic conditions, Nigeria has struggled to position itself as a key plaver in the international pineapple market.
“Instead, the country continues to import pineapples and related products, missing out on potential export revenue and global trade opportunities. Nigeria’s inability to capitalize on its pineapple production can be traced to several key challenges.”
