The  food and beverage sub- sector of the Nigerian economy is thriving with   about 14 companies already listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE).

The capacity utilisation in the food, beverage and tobacco sub-sector is now   peaked at 50 percent, making it the most developed in the manufacturing sector.

The federal government placed an import ban on a wide range of agricultural   products to protect local industries and to conserve foreign exchange.

The production profile may have also be buffeted by favourable market situation, as consumption did hit over 468.5 million litres of fruit juice  so far as at December last year 2011. That figure arrived at is based on a yearly   consumption increase of 10% since 2002.

Prior to the ban, approximately 80 percent (about 170million litres per year, valued at $255million) of Nigeria’s demand for fruit juice was filled by imports. Interestingly, this growth in the juice market seemed to defy the poor performance indices the Nigerian economy has been recording.

But however, inspite of this growth, stakeholders were optimistic that the sector was still bedeviled with a lot challenges, which needed urgent government’s attention.

Speaking on the challenges in the sector, Director-General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN), Mr Yinka Akande, stated that there were many challenges, which needed to be addressed before the sector could play an important role as an engine of economic growth, including increasing efficiency and productivity.

According to him, a considerable amount of fruits produced in the country were lost after harvest due to inadequate infrastructure and capacity for storage and preservation.

He therefore stressed the need for efforts to be geared towards increasing production and curtailing post-harvest losses through value addition.

Akande stated: “This is an opportunity which must be seized,I am aware that many of the research institutions are already working in this area. Improved varieties must be developed to markedly increase production output per hectare and produce fruits with desirable attributes

“The importation of almost 95percent of the fruit juice concentrates revealed that a demand-supply gap existed in the fruit juice industry in Nigeria. It is expected that the industry will integrate backwardly by investing in fruit juice concentrates production. This is a challenge which the fruit juice industries must tackle. Government is prepared to fully support efforts at local sourcing of fruit juice concentrates.”

He expressed optimism that in about a decade from now, fruit juice industries would be the main stay of the economy, noting that “all states in the country produce a variety of fruits and as such, industrial investments which place a high demand on local fruit production will therefore greatly impact on both the rural and urban areas of the country.”

The Director-General of Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Dr Gloria Elemo, stated that post- harvest of agricultural outputs(fruits inclusive) in Nigeria was said to be one-third of the total yield and that has been giving her research institute a lot of concern. She however said the research body was putting in place many strategies to help farmers reduce the post-harvest losses.

Elemo stated that, however the fruit industry in the country has been growing rapidly with high prospects for better growth. She attributed the growth to increased activities of research institutions and other support bodies, which she said has led to improved varieties of fruits and better yields.

She, however, indentified some of the serious challenges facing the sector to include the unwillingness of communities to give out their lands for planting on a large scale, lack of good rural access roads, high cost of equipment, machinery, and pesticides.

She expressed hope that all the challenges could be overcomed if all stakeholders and the government could make committed efforts to solve them.

She emphasised that the nation should urgently tap into the benefits of fruit juice sector because the socio-economic benefits derivable from tropical fruits were enormous.

“Investments in tropical fruit production will have  a great multiplier effects as it will not only improve the country’s economic level, but will also ensure creation of millions of jobs and also enhance rural and urban income and improve living standards of all Nigerians.

“Nigeria’s immense potential in tropical fruits production if well recognised, and if well harnessed,will position the country in the lead in world trade production,” she said.

LEADERSHIP online version, 26/1/2012

Interview of the DG, FIIRO, Dr (Mrs) G.N Elemo, BSJ, Feb 13th 2012

The fact that you are doing research and development does not mean you will eventually get results. It takes year before you get tangible results. And to achieve that it would have taken much money which nobody in the private sector is ready for’ - Dr. Gloria Elemo, director-general, Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi, FIIRO.

The Director General/CEO, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr (Mrs) Gloria Elemo, has been nominated as the Woman of the Year 2012 by Centre for Policy Development and Political Studies. See details in Punch Newspaper, 15th May 2012.