By Odedele Timileyin /Odukoya Adeleke
In a bid to enhance agricultural productivity, improve livelihoods, and enhance export, banana and plantain farmers in Ekiti State have called on the partnership and collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and other Government agencies for value-chain development assistance. The farmers, under the aegis of the Ekiti State Banana and Plantain Growers Association, are urging the RMRDC and others to provide support in processing, packaging, and marketing their produce to access larger markets and increase profitability.
During a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti organized by Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Ekiti, at EKICCIMA Hall, Trade Fair Complex Ado Ekiti on the 29th of August 2024 the farmers expressed concern about the limited opportunities to maximize the full potential of their crops. Despite the state’s favorable climate and fertile soil, which allow for the abundant production of banana and plantain, the lack of value-added processing facilities has hampered their ability to command premium prices in the market.
The objective of the event is to significantly position Ekiti State and by extension, Nigeria to be a major player in the global export of banana, and bring stakeholders like RMRDC together to chart a way forward.
Banana serves as a source of vitamins and minerals to the human body system. While both banana and plantain are the fourth most important food crops, they help in reducing the risk of heart diseases, arthritis, ulcers, gastroenteritis, and kidney disorders. They can be processed into juice, wine, chips, flour, etc.
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Ekiti State cultivates exportable species of banana in large quantities which attempts had been made in the past to develop for export. Significantly, bananas and plantain can add over $1 billion to non-oil exports if the potential is properly harnessed for export.
The state governor Mr. Biodun Abayomi represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security-Engr. Gbenga Odesanmi said the banana and plantain value-chain development could serve as a model for other states, boosting Nigeria’s agricultural exports and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. He assured the farmers of support in the form of provision of quality suckers and seedlings at subsidized prices, mechanized farming equipment, land for clustering of farmers, and adequate security.
The state Coordinator of RMRDC, Mr. Awotola B. acknowledged the farmers’ appeal and expressed the council’s commitment to supporting agricultural value chains across the country. He highlighted the council’s ongoing efforts in developing processing technologies for various crops and assured the farmers that their concerns would be looked it.
The Acting Trade Advisor of NEPC Ekiti Export Assistance Office, Mrs. Emily Otoide, assured the state, the farmers, and all stakeholders of continuous intervention support to scale up banana production and value chain development, and called on RMRDC to look into the areas of R&D, technology, and cluster development to make the project a reality.
