Pineapple cultivation has positive socioeconomic implications and creates jobs
An Agriprenure, Ambassador Segun Alabi has said one of the ways pineapple farming can be attractive to young people is for government to finance young entrepreneurs towards achieving self sustainability.
Alabi also called on both the federal and state governments to provide enabling environment that will make Nigerians, especially the youths to embrace agriculture, through provision of security and social amenities that will discourage rural-urban migration.
Alabi, who is the CEO of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited and founder of Davidorlah Farm, made the call while allocating pineapple farms to some farmers, who had subscribed to the phase 2 of his pineapple farms plantation, located in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State.
He noted that the allocation marks a key milestone in the company’s mission to position Nigeria, as a leading pineapple exporter in the world in the next few years.
While describing pineapple farming as a lucrative business, Alabi noted that pineapple farms is immune to destruction by cattle, unlike other crops .
He said, phase 1 has been sold out and in this phase 2 the road construction is done by the world bank. Where we are at Davidolar farm estate, is a good farm estate. The demand for pineapple around the world is increasing on a daily basis. If Nigeria become the highest producer of pineapple in the world supplying all other countries around the world, I think it’s the best thing our government can do for our youth because the demand is there. If you can create a land that can produce good pineapple, then it is good for us and the government can just empower the youth as in finance. The major thing is finance: when young people have finance, they can do anything .
Speaking further, he said Davidolar farm is positioned to train people as well as become the largest exporter of pineapple.
He said ” We have trained over 500 people. The value chain in pine apple is so wide.
“Pineapple cultivation has positive socio-economic implications and creates jobs for many people in rural areas, thereby contributing to reducing unemployment and poverty”.
While explaining the value chain in pineapple, he noted that apart from using the fruit for juice, its peel can be used for shoes, clothes, bio-fuel production, creation of renewable energy, cloth production as well as shoes.
The entrepreneur alo disclosed that his firm is in partnership with investors in the area of turning pineapple waste to wealth from Netherland and Indonesia to solve the challenge of importation
