Mango farmers appeal for friendly policy, commend training on standard

The President, National Association of Mango Producers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NAMPPMAN) Hon.  Abdulkadir Andaje Nasir has called on the Government affiliated agencies in the mango value chains not to be too rigid in their approach to the development of the produce for local and international consumptions, just as he commended the training given on production standard.

Hon. Abdulkadir Nasir said this at the one day sensitization workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) in partnership with NAMPPMAN on proper harvesting, processing, and packaging of mango and its products held at Osogbo, Osun state recently.

Hon. Nasir said that no mango plantation orchard would exist to galvanize our present low production level of 800,000 metric tons per annual without a proactive support of financial institutions and other federal government agencies, adding a situation where commercial banks would be demanding for an outrageous collateral for farms in a remote side of the country cannot take the produce to anywhere good in terms of sustainable productivity.

He demanded that Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Bank of Industry (BOI) be more responsive to bridge the gap as specifically being created for the purposes of meeting the needs of farmers and other manufacturers in terms of finance, just as he stressed for the easy way of doing business that would enhance economic development from agencies like National Export Promotion Council (NEPC), National Agency for Food and Drug (NAFDAC), and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON)

 Nasir stressed the need for increased extension services in the production of competitive mangoes, saying other government agencies must be interested in the role of extension workers and be ready to give support in order to overcome challenges of certification and standardization.

In his speech, the Permanent Secretary (PS) FMITI Dr. Nasir sani-Gwarzo who was represented by the Deputy Director (DD) commodity export department in the ministry, Mr. S.O.G Twageringha said that government would not relent in the provision of interactive platform for stakeholders’ engagement in the agricultural commodities so as to be able to create necessary awareness on sustainable productivity to create wealth and job.

Dr. Gwarzo added that the Federal Government (FG) has recently released the sum of N50 billion for export expansion facility programme which is aimed at protecting businesses from the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic, stressed that the workshop is aimed to educate stakeholders along the mango value chains on good agricultural practices towards reducing post harvest losses and ensure prescribed standard for international markets.

He went further to say that Nigeria has capacity to increase production from the present level of 800,000 metric tons per annual through constant training of farmers and other stakeholders at the value chain of the produce. 

The event witnessed the presence of the three commissioners of Agriculture and Food security, Commerce and Industry and Cooperative, and Ministry of Environment of the State of Osun as they all spoke in one accord that the Government is working in the development of Agriculture with the provision of agro processing centres to ensure value addition for agricultural produce.

Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner for commerce, industry and cooperative, Dr. Bode Olanipekun stressed the need to ensure processing of mangoes, adding that the state of Osun under the leadership of Governor Gboyega Oyetola was not unmindful of this as he has set up nine aggregating centres to mitigate wastages of fruits in the state.

 Olanipekun implored the mango association chapter in the state to make itself available to the ministry for effective partnership for productivity, stressed that 60% of the fruits in the state ended being wasted while the rest 40% for local consumption was not too good.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food security, Hon. Adebayo Adewole, ably represented by Mr. O.A Oladapo said that mango enhancement productivity would generate more job for people at the various value chains of the produce, adding that the state of Osun has budgeted substantial amount of money to establish agro processing factories at Irewole and Atakumosa local government areas of Osun state to ensure value additions.

Hon. Adewole added that Osun state is endowed with fertile soil to grow mangoes and other arable crops thereby asking investors to harness the opportunity of conducive and enabling environment for agro processing to create jobs.

The environment commissioner, Hon. Solagbade Oladepo who supported the view of his colleagues added that government would continue to support farmers in the state with resources being committed to promote investment in agriculture and agro forestry through availability of infrastructure, credit and extension services.

In his training, the resource person of the day, Dr. Vincent Umeh of National Horticultural research Institute (NIHORT) took farmers from elementary improved seed varieties adoptable to every ecology of mangoes producing states in Nigeria, saying each variety is ecology specific in Kano, Kaduna, Nazarawa, Adamawa, Bauch, Benue, Oyo and Ogbomoso adding that exportable mangoes have their specifications that must be known to farmers.

Dr. Umeh explained why global agricultural practices must be upheld to prevent rejection from chemical residuals, flies infection and every other micro organisms, stressed the need to always keep the farm clean from flies invasion with net traps in a bio-safety way without any chemical spray.

He advocated for increased production of mangoes through orchards plantation using improved variety that can meet the commercial needs of local and international market within few year of 3-4, adding that no export of the produce is presenting going in the country.

 Umeh advised farmers on the need to constantly prone their mango trees to avoid unusual height that can make harvesting difficult saying a soft landing mechanism must be apply when harvesting to prevent bruises on the mangoes that can attract insect or other infectors.

He however emphasized on the need for cool storage for the mangoes, and the use of covered vehicles to transport the mango to the point of processing for derivatives.