The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has called on unemployed youths and farmers in the country to take advantage of opportunities in agribusiness, especially the boom in pineapple production.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, said this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, which had in attendance representatives of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation.
She said the forum was organised as part of measures to achieve the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda being driven by the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.
Odusote said although Nigeria was not a major fresh fruits exporting country, the nation was rated as one of the leading producers of tropical fruits among the seven largest in the world.
She said, “The Federal Government is working tirelessly to ensure an enabling environment for investors in the agricultural sector. The youth must come forward now to identify roles to play in the agribusiness opportunities in pineapple production.
“Nigeria is ranked seventh among the major pineapple producing countries in the world with progressively increasing national output of 0.9 metric tonnes in 2000 to 1.4 metric tonnes in 2012, and has the potential share in the world of pineapple trade.
“The increased awareness of health benefits in fresh fruits consumption and Nigeria’s huge population will further strengthen the market, thereby leading to an increase in demand and production, job and wealth creation and income generation. It will also bridge the demand and supply gap for domestic consumption and export, reduce concentrates importation, earn and conserve foreign exchange as well as achieve sustainable food security.”
The FAO-UN representative in Nigeria, Ms. Louise Setshwaelo, said her organisation was delighted to collaborate with the ministry to promote pineapple agribusiness in the South-West.
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