Nigeria export of fresh fruits and vegetables has dropped since 2016, compared to other ECOWAS countries, the Senior Project Manager COLEACP, Wester Schepers has said.
He spoke during the launch of fit for market (FFM+) programme in Lagos.
As at 2019, Schepers said, Niger and Côte’Ivoire exported most fresh fruits and vegetables from the sub-region.
He said Niger exports 21 per cent, Côte’Ivoire 21 per cent, Ghana17 per cent Senegal 16 per cent, Burkina Faso nine per cent, Mali five per cent, Togo five per cent and Nigeria three.
In terms of total agro commodities from ECOWAS countries, Côte d’Ivoire contributed 42 per cent, Ghana 18 per cent and Nigeria eight per cent.
Others were Senegal seven per cent, Niger six per cent, Burkina Faso six per cent, Benin four per cent and Guinea-Bissau three percent, Togo two percent, Guinea two per cent, Mali one per cent and Gambia one.
According to him, a very small share of the volume of fruits and vegetables produced is exported from Nigeria.
His words: “This share is decreasing by half, as the production is growing and the level of export reducing. The picture is slightly better if one includes bananas and cashew (0.15 per cent in 2019).”
He listed that major markets for Nigeria for fresh fruits and vegetables to United Kingdom 74 per cent,Netherlands five per cent, Spain 11 per cent and Germany per cent.