By Agency Report
Mr. Adeniyi Bunmi, the Chief Executive Officer of Avocado Society of Nigeria (AVOSON) on Thursday, said the association was planning to establish over 3.000 hectares of avocado in 2021 to create 10,000 jobs.
Bunmi, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while discussing the benefit of avocado, said the effort would contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
He said that avocado was doing very well in the southern and central parts of Nigeria, adding that there was the need to increase the commercialization and export of the commodity.
Bunmi said that the process would create around 10,000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.
“We are already building the capacity of our farmers to produce premium organic avocado plantation.
“There will be jobs for farmers, pickers, and allied businesses. based on the existing feedback and inquiries we have been getting; jobs will also be created in our cities in the area of storage, processing, and logistics,” he said.
According to him, avocado is marketable in the country because of its numerous health and nutritional benefits.
He said that the association expected restaurants and other related services to key into the trend by serving different, highly nutritious, and healthy avocado recipes as part of a Nigerian meal.
According to him, to solve the problem, the association will set up large farms for members across the country, majorly in the South East, South West, and South-South states.
“For now, we are focusing on farmers in Imo, Ogun, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River, and Oyo states.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government and agencies of government to assist in the area of funding.
