By Mojeed Adeyemi
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Lagos Coordination Office, has intensified efforts to promote value addition and reduce post-harvest losses in Nigeria’s fruit and vegetable sector through a proposed stakeholders’ forum aimed at enhancing processing, innovation, and market competitiveness.
The initiative was unveiled during a strategic stakeholder engagement meeting held on June 5, 2026, at the RMRDC House Boardroom, Lekki, Lagos, where key industry players gathered to discuss a partnership framework for hosting a Stakeholders’ Forum on Fruit and Vegetable Product Development and Value Addition.
Participants at the meeting included representatives of Dehydrator Hub Agrifood Technology Limited, Jodriek Concepts Limited, Flinks Food and Beverage Industries Limited, Food Health Systems Advisory, and Eupepsia Place Limited.
Speaking during the meeting, the Lagos State Coordinator of RMRDC, Mrs. Uchechukwu Ojiakor, stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing challenges confronting the fruit and vegetable value chain and advancing value-added production.
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She noted that the proposed forum was conceived in response to persistent sectoral challenges and is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to explore practical solutions for industry growth.
The meeting featured a presentation by Dr. (Mrs.) Moyofoluwa Ogunyemi, who sensitized participants on the proposed forum and highlighted recent initiatives of the Council. These include the proposed 30 per cent Value Addition Bill, the Memorandum of Understanding between RMRDC and the Bank of Industry, and the National Industrial Cluster Initiative under the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) framework.
According to Ogunyemi, the proposed forum is designed to strengthen stakeholders’ capacity to develop market-ready fruit and vegetable products, improve processing techniques, and reduce post-harvest losses across the value chain.
She explained that the forum would also create opportunities for stakeholders to gain exposure to modern processing technologies, quality standards, and best practices that can improve product competitiveness in local and international markets.
“The forum seeks to sensitize stakeholders on value addition opportunities, strengthen industry linkages, improve export competitiveness, and promote sustainable industrial growth within the sector,” she said.
Ogunyemi added that the expected outcomes include increased innovation, improved market access, stronger collaboration among industry players, enhanced food security, and a significant reduction in post-harvest losses.
Stakeholders at the meeting commended the initiative, describing it as timely and capable of addressing critical challenges facing the fruit and vegetable industry.
During deliberations, participants identified inadequate funding, limited access to technology, logistics constraints, poor market access, and the underutilization of processing facilities due to high operational costs as major obstacles to sector growth.
They expressed strong support for the proposed forum and pledged to collaborate with RMRDC to ensure its successful implementation.
