Date: 2018-03-23

Nigeria is currently ranked ninth position in the world production of mango fruit, the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has declared.

With the placement in the global record, the institute said Nigeria has comparative advantage in the production of mango and mushroom in large scale to meet export and domestic consumption.

The Acting Executive Director of NIHORT, Dr Abayomi Akeem Olaniyan, stated this yesterday at the ongoing Skill Acquisition Training and Empowerment in Horticulture Value Chain focusing on Mango and Mushroom, held at Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Olaiyan, who was represented at the event by the Director of Horti-Consult and Research of the Institute, Dr Stephen Afolayan, challenged Nigerians to venture into production mango owing to huge profit accruable from it.

The training, which drew participants from across the country, is organised by NIHORT in conjuction with Hauge Logistics Limited.

Speaking at the commencement of the training, the NIHORT boss described mango as a tropical fruit that is greatly relished for its succulence, exotic flavour and delicious taste in most countries.

He also pointed out that the fruit has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that specifically help in lowering serum cholesterol levels.

"Mango and Mushroom are important Horticultural Commodities. Horticulture has been variously suggested to be one of the most viable and sustainable source off household income, employment generation, enhanced Gross Domestic Product and Government revenue. It is worthy of note that Nigeria has comparative advantage in the production of Mango and Mushroom. "Mango is among the important tropical fruits and is greatly relished for its succulence, exotic flavour and delicious taste in most countries of the world. Nigeria ranked ninth in world mango production. "Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure", the NIHORT acting executive director said. On mushroom, he emphasised that as one of the food items, it plays a crucial role in human health, nutrition and stave off diseases, just as it also provides protein, vitamins and minerals to the body.

"Mushroom cultivation belongs to the High Value Agriculture. It is particularly attractive to broad spectrum of stakeholders because it can be produced indoor in large quantity within a short period of time at great profitability.

"Mushroom is one of the important food items. It plays a significant role in human health, nutrition and diseases and is good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Some mushrooms have medicinal benefits of certain polysaccharides, which are known to boost the immune system. Mushroom cultivation can help reduce vulnerability to poverty and strengthens livelihoods through the generation of a fast yielding and nutritious source of food and a reliable source of income", Olaniyan said.

Both the Executive Director of ARMTI represented by his Director, Training Technology Department, Mr Gbenga Okeowo and Mrs Dasola Oderinlo from Hauge Logistics Limited, urged the participants to take advantage of the skill acquisition training to develop their capacity, describing it as another way of the government in giving back to the society.

They also admonished them to pay attention to the training to enable them replicate knowledge derived at home, make money and also help in curbing hunger in the nation through production of more food.

Some of the participants including Seidu Abdulrahman and Mrs Esther Owolabi, who spoke of their expectation, lauded the initiative of the Federal Government in agricultural development, saying the seminar would bring about value addition in mango and mushroom production and in turn increase their income.