Stakeholders advocate quality concentrate for fruit Juice

      

*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.