Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural sector have raised alarms over the economic losses incurred due to the importation of pineapples from Ghana and Togo.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Ambassador Oluwasegun Alabi, a seasoned agriculturist, disclosed that Nigeria loses N50 million daily to pineapple imports, despite being the world’s eighth-largest producer of the fruit with an annual output of 1,607,200 metric tons.
Comparatively, Ghana and Togo produce less, ranking 13th and 16th respectively, yet Nigeria continues to import pineapples from these nations. This paradox exists because Nigeria’s production falls short of meeting domestic consumption needs by 50%, forcing the country to rely on imports.
Ambassador Alabi highlighted the growing global demand for pineapples due to their versatility, as they can be used to produce items such as clothing, shoes, bags, disposable plates, spoons, and biofuel, alongside their well-known health benefits.
However, he lamented that Nigeria has failed to capitalize on this demand due to key challenges, such as substandard farming practices.
“The pineapples cultivated in Nigeria do not meet the required standards for industrial use because farmers have failed to comply with standard agricultural practices, resulting in subpar fruit quality, which makes them unsuitable for export and industrial use,” Alabi said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Davidorlah Farms echoed these concerns, noting that Nigeria lacks proper processing facilities to package pineapples for export.
He noted that this gap in infrastructure leaves Nigeria out of the global market for value-added products like canned pineapples and pineapple concentrate juice.
He emphasized that despite the rising global demand, Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains untapped, primarily due to outdated farming practices and limited access to modern resources and infrastructure.
“We urge the government to create an enabling environment that fosters business growth and allows the private sector to thrive,” Ambassador Alabi stated.
He also called for the government to engage knowledgeable individuals and organizations in the agricultural sector to provide strategic advice and address Nigeria’s food security crisis with urgency.
Despite having the potential to meet domestic demand and become a leading global exporter, Nigeria continues to import pineapples and miss out on significant export revenue and trade opportunities.