Council Partners With University to Boost Pineapple Production In Imo State

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, have collaborated to enhance the production of pineapple as an export product in Imo State.

NEPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ezra Yakusak, announced the collaboration at a stakeholders’ engagement on pineapple development, in Owerri, Imo State capital on Wednesday.

Yakusak said that the collaboration was part of efforts by the Council to promote its One State One Product, OSOP initiative in Imo.

He thanked the Imo government for its commitment to the economic development of the state and expressed the hope that Imo would soon assume a pride of place in the comity of export states.

“There are large markets available for both fresh and dried pineapple in the international market where the USA, Japan, China, Canada and Germany top the table of importers of pineapple from West Africa.

“Efforts to take advantage of this huge potential cannot be at a better time than now when non-oil exports is the only means for our survival as a nation, hence this stakeholders’ engagement,” he said.

Yakusak was represented by the NEPC Coordinator, Imo Coordinating Office, Mr Anthony Ajuruchi.

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Professor Nnenna Otti, said that the institution had developed a juicer for the processing of pineapple and extraction of juice.

Ott  said that the University had concluded arrangements to donate one of the locally fabricated juicing machines to pineapple growers and exporters in Imo to facilitate production and processing.

“As partners in progress, the decision to donate a juicer will augment efforts of the NEPC and ensure value addition to the production chain,” she said.

Also, the State Manager, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, Dr Ifeoma Onyia, promised that the Agency would assist pineapple farmers and exporters within the limits of its operational mandate.

The Chairman, Imo chapter of the National Association of Pineapple Growers, Processors, and Marketers, Mr Okechukwu Nwogu said that Imo was the sixth highest pineapple producing state in Nigeria with an annual production capacity of 200 metric tons.
He described pineapple as a perishable commodity and called for Government’s intervention to address challenges associated with post harvest handling of the produce.

NAN/Confidence Okwuchi