*Osun records 70% wastages
Major fruit producers in the country have emphasized the need for quality concentrate for juice production starting with farmers through the timely effective supply of inputs support by the government.
This position was the outcome of the recently stakeholders meeting held at the instance of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) in Abuja. Fruit concentrate according to the chairman,
Fruit Juice Producers& Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Mr. Fred
Chiazor was very scarce due to increase in local demand coupled with scarcity of
Foreign Exchange (FOREX) in accordance with government policy to checkmate
import.
Chiazor
suggests the need for concentrate producers to work with farmers in order to
ensure quality and standard saying government must give these two links an
uppermost priority towards standard productivity of fruit juice for local and
export markets.
He stressed
the need for government to give inputs support to farmers so as to ensure
increased fruits production with training on cultivations, ensuring the right
environment, space, and storage facilities.
Speaking, the Director, Commodity Export Department (CED), Federal Ministry Industry and Trade (FMITI) Mr. SulemanAdebayo Audu
stressed the need for locally produced fruits and concentrates in a standard
way for the purpose of health guarantee, adding that standard production must
not be compromised with proper labeling and packaging for consumption
promotion and sustainable availability.
Mr. Godwin
Etsano, a pineapple farmer alluded to why fruits and concentrates productivity
must be taken very serious to afford wastage's adding that ‘’ if the issue of
quality is well taken care of, there will be low wastage's and that the way to a
healthy nation is to train our farmers on producing safe food’’
Etsano
advised that the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) needs to up its game
and rise up to eradicate dangerous chemicals that are sprayed on plants before
being taken to market for healthy living in the country.
Also the National Apple Farmers, Processors
and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NAFPMAN), president Mr. Clement Omoyemi Ohikhueme
said his association would as a measure of ensuring standard and quality
organically produce apples in Nigeria for the purpose of enhancing health
condition of consumers.
Ohikhueme
however advocated for the government’s support to farmers, saying this would
enhance the sustainability of premium apple for both locally and internationally
consumption as he stressed the need for constant training of farmers.
Also, the
commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Osun state, Dr. Olabode
Olanipekun hinted that 70% of fruit trees grown in the state were wasted due to
lack of being processed into fruit concentrate and juice.
Olanipekun
pointed that the state is making frantic effort to ensure processing of the fruits
for more economic earnings is prioritized to curb wastages.
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