Stakeholders urge FG to strengthen horticulture, grapes market

Stakeholders have urged the federal government to strengthen local production and supply chain of horticulture and grapes to enable Nigeria to benefit from the 43 billion euros European Union Horticulture and Grape Import Market.

The stakeholders stated this at a webinar organised by the EU-Nigeria Agribusiness Platform under the platform’s monthly informational webinar series, with the theme “Market insights: opportunities in the EU edible vegetables, floriculture, and grapes import markets.”

According to them, this is the time for Nigeria to penetrate the 43 billion euro market for edible vegetables, floriculture, and grapes imported into the EU countries in 2023.

The Special Assistant to the President on Export Expansion, Office of the Vice President Aliyu Sheriff while delivering the keynote address emphasised that the country must take strategic steps to align with international standards, tap into high-value markets and attract investment in key agricultural sectors.

He said the EU’s horticulture and grapes market valued at over 20 billion euros, presents a significant opportunity for Nigerian producers.

According to him, by leveraging EU technical know-how, best practices, and sustainable investment, we can enhance productivity, ensure compliance with market requirements, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global value chain.

He assured that the Federal Government, through the Renewed Hope Agenda, remains committed to driving export-led economic growth.

“We are actively promoting initiatives that strengthen value addition, improve logistics, and create an enabling environment for businesses to scale internationally. This aligns with our broader vision of economic diversification, job creation and increased foreign exchange earnings.

“I encourage all stakeholders, state governments, agripreneurs, financial institutions and investors to take full advantage of this platform.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Cenacle Kenya Limited Mr. Bonaventure Mwaghania, urged Nigeria to take advantage of its proximity to EU countries and the better sea freight rates that Kenya and other countries have and harped on the need to strengthen local production for export expansion.

He pointed out that Kenya currently employs over two million people in the horticulture sector and generates about $1 billion in horticulture product export to the EU countries.

He said “Kenya horticulture production started in the early 80’s and has metamorphosed into a sustainable commercial production and it has grown over the years, as the sector is coordinated by the private sector through the Kenya Flower Council on the floriculture side.”

The Senior Programme Manager for Competitiveness and Financial Instruments at the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Frank Isioma Okafor, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties between Nigeria and the EU.

The Dutch Government through the HortiNigeria project said it supported 60,000 farmers in production clusters in Kano and Kaduna to produce edible vegetables.

It also offered linkage to markets and access to finance for farmers to strengthen domestic trade in horticulture products.

The EU-Nigeria Agribusiness Platform is funded by the EU and managed by Agribusiness Register Limited to expand trade and investment between Nigeria and the 27 EU countries in the agribusiness ecosystem.