A Research Scientist at the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Semeton Amosu says fruits and vegetables are hidden money spinning venture, urging investors to focus on them.
Amosu said this on Wednesday at a two-day seminar organised by Agric Investors and Resources Development Forum (AIRDEF) held at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan.
He noted that fruits and vegetables had a lot of value-chain ranging from production, processing, packaging, trading, as well as sales.
“For pineapple alone, one can make money from suckers, multiplication and sales; production; sales of pumpkin (ugu) seedlings and the leaves could also yield good money.
“All you need do is to get accurate, current and dependable information about the business you want to do before you start,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Elizabeth Farinde, a Food Scientist at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan, said the only way to reduce food wastage was through food processing and preservation for future use.
Farinde said re-investing in agriculture would only be meaningful if processes of adding value to agricultural produce were given priority attention.
“We waste a lot of food in the processing stage, because we don’t have enough facilities to process them, some technologies developed for food processing are still hidden and not accessible.
“Training people on hygienic ways of handling food, good packaging machines, appropriate processing all save food wastages,” she said.
For exporters of agricultural produce, Mr Eyiola Oyedepo from Okims Investment Ltd, Lagos, advised them to register with all relevant tax authorities and obtain valid Tax Identification Number (TIN).
“Try and register with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council to obtain export license to avoid running into problems,” he said.
Atinuke Ofunkoya, the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, said the event was apt, in view of the country’s stance to diversify the economy into agriculture.
Ofunkoya identified agriculture as one of the main policies of the state government, as it had put in place empowerment programmes for women and youths via the ministry of Women Affairs
Earlier, AIRDEF President, Olla Oluwaseun, said the organisation was established to expose, enlighten and empower Nigerians on commercial agriculture.
“We focus on agriculture as a vehicle for achieving food security, job opportunity, poverty alleviation, economic growth, development of capacity, skills, stakeholders’ engagement and exportation of products in Nigeria.
“We partner with states and federal ministry of agriculture, agro allied industries and major stakeholders in agricultural industry,” she said.
