What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES’ Bakare Majeed, the CEO of Davidorlah Pineapple Farms, speaks on the $27.08 billion global pineapple market, Nigerian government policies on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), his plan to train 50,000 young people in pineapple farming, and other issues in the agricultural sector.

Excerpts:

PT: When Nigerians talk about cash crop farming, it’s mostly about cocoa, rubber, cashew, cotton and the rest. But you seem to focus on pineapples. Why is that?

Alabi: In 2020, Thailand exported 290,524 metric tonnes of canned pineapples valued at about $345 million, despite COVID-19 and global restrictions. This is a market Nigeria needs to tap into. We are currently ranked eighth globally in terms of production. However, our output is not enough for local consumption, let alone exporting. We need to utilise our capacity more effectively so that we can earn significant revenue through exports. My firm is taking bold steps in getting more young people into the sector by training 50,000 young individuals over time in the best practices of pineapple farming.

PT: Let’s talk about exports. What is your capacity for exporting?

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