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.
Comments
Post a Comment
Hello