The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has tasked farmers in Edo to adopt best practices that will make Nigeria Pineapple gain global acceptance.
Dr Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director, NEPC, made the call at the Council’s capacity building workshop on development of pineapple for export held in Benin on Wednesday.
Yakusak, represented by Mr Emmanuel Etim, Trade Promotion Adviser, NEPC Benin office, said that Pineapple was chosen by Edo Government as an alternate product under the One-State, One- Product Initiative.
He, therefore, urged pineapple farmers in the state to imbibe good agricultural practices, good storage practices and quality value addition required for export market.
“The international market will only welcome products of high-quality standard with relevant certification and packaging that is customer friendly.
“It is in recognition of this that the Council embarked on numbers of strategic sensitisation programme to assist farmers, processors and SMEs improve the standard of their products for export.’’
Also speaking, Dr Jonathan Aligbe, a representative from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Benin, said Nigeria’s share in pineapple export market was minimal in spite being the highest producer of the crop in Africa.
Aligbe said farmers in the state could invest in the production, processing and marketing of pineapple for export purposes.
“Cultivate varieties that will be accepted at the international market, adopt good agronomic practices and get necessary certification to enjoy the benefits of pineapple exportation.’’
Participants at the event commended the organisers for the workshop, saying it was necessary to promote the Pineapple value chain in the state. nan.
