Nigeria can generate annual revenue of N12 billion from Avocado, if efforts are geared toward elevating the production of the commodity for export purposes, the Avocado Society of Nigeria (AVOSON) has said.

Urging the government to assist with resources, the Chief Executive Officer of the group, Ambassador Adeniyi Bunmi noted that avocado can generate enough revenue to grow the Nigerian economy, as the profitability of the fruit is higher than many tropical fruits.

In his remarks, “Avocado is very marketable in the country because of its numerous health and nutritional benefits. The fruit has been doing well in our neighboring countries, most especially Kenya, who is in the top ten of exporters of the fruit in the world. Marketing the fruit is part of the responsibility of the association.”

Bunmi, however, bemoaned that the country was not a recognizable avocado producer due to certain challenges bedeviling the industry, such as inadequate finance to produce quality end products.

Citing lack of funding as the chief challenge, Bunmi revealed that the group was establishing farms for members nationwide, mostly in the South East, South West and South-South states, to jump-start the avocado sub-sector.

“Based on the interesting feedback and inquiries that we’ve been getting, I can confidently say that over 3000 hectares of Hass avocado farm will be up and running between now and 2021 which will attract around 10,000 direct and indirect jobs because we are building the capacity of our farmers to produce premium organic Hass avocado plantation.

“Jobs will also be created in our cities in the area of storage, processing, logistics, while restaurants and other related services will have no choice than to key in by serving different highly nutritious and healthy Hass avocado recipes”. He said.

The CEO further assured that the association would give adequate training to farmers on how to handle the entire packaging and quality assurance processes

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA