Poverty, ignorance impeding growth of Nigeria’s horticulture sector

Agriculture has consistently served as a pivotal sector and major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP), contributing 23.3 percent to Nigeria’s GDP as of September 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its latest GDP report.

Despite the significant impact of agriculture to the economy, industry experts contend that its economic potential and business value are still undermined as most farmers and producers have failed to participate in some of the key value chains of the agriculture industry. One of the major value chains considered having low exploitation is horticulture.

Horticulture refers to the practice associated with the science and technique of production, processing and merchandising of fruits, turf, shrubs, vegetables, flowers, spices, and herbs for consumption and ornamental purposes. In most cases, the plants and fruits are mainly developed to enhance the beautification of home surroundings and relaxation centres with the use of colourful plants or flowers.

The global horticulture market size was valued at $20.4 billion in 2021 and projected to surpass $56.5 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9 percent within the forecast period of 2022-2030.

The market growth is attributed to the rising acceptance of sustainable horticulture practices and increasing demand for agricultural products to meet the growing needs of the global population, especially in urban communities.

In furtherance, growing awareness regarding aesthetic relevance of plants, sustainable agricultural practice, demand for organic food, and increasing adoption of greenhouse horticulture activities are expected to fuel the market in the coming years

The significant growth of the market, according to experts, represents a key share of the agriculture industry, supported by a rising global population and a growing health-conscious population, leading to the surge in demand for organic foods.

Market reports show that in Europe, agro-commodity value chain players such as food processing industries, supermarket chains, and other organised market outlets have raised demand for crops sourced from horticultural outlets.

As lucrative as the horticulture business may seem, producers’ engagement in it is relatively minimal compared to other agricultural activities. Analysts argue that the apathy of many producers to the horticulture sector stems from the erroneous belief that it is solely about planting of plants for aesthetic uses and holds little economic benefit.

In a move to develop the sector, the Yakubu Gowon military administration established the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in 1975. The institute, headquartered in Ibadan, is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). It is tasked with the mandate to conduct research into genetic improvement, production, processing, storage, utilisation and marketing of tropical fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, spices, other medicinal and aromatic plants of nutritional and economic importance.

NIHORT, in its assessment of Nigeria’s horticulture sector, identified poverty as one of the major challenges facing the industry.

Afolayan Stephen Olaoye, an erstwhile director of the institute, also highlighted unqualified and untrained vendors hijacking the industry; lack of standardisation among the actors; and inadequate facilities for nursery activities among factors hindering the development of the sector.

Abubakar Ahmad, a lecturer in the Department of Horticultural Technology, Federal College of Horticulture, Gombe State, in a research publication titled “Horticultural Crops in Nigeria: Challenges and the Way Forward”, noted that the horticulture sector offers a significant economic benefit to the country. This, he explained, is hinged on the positive influence improved value chains in horticulture have both for the rural population often working in agriculture and the growing urban class that needs access to horticultural produce.

Ahmad identified lack of access to inputs such as seeds/seedlings and fertiliser as one of the challenges hindering the optimal productivity of horticultural outcomes.

The horticulture expert also stressed that low access to information and knowledge about the sector is a drawback to productivity.

In order to increase horticultural productivity and improve its business both nationally and internationally, Ahmad stated that the right information is required at the right time for strategic planning and making sound and appropriate decision.

“This is relevant to all stakeholders in the sector, including farmers, input suppliers, processors, traders, policy makers, development partners, and researchers,” Ahmad said.

“Appropriate information can sharpen opportunities, clarify market access, and enable participants to make choices regarding how to deploy scarce resources,” he noted.

Ahmad, who described horticulture as a critical enabler of economic growth, called on the federal government to put more efforts towards equipping and engaging its institutions and bodies towards conducting research for increased horticultural productivity. He also stressed that the research results should be made available to farmers and other actors in the horticultural sector to enhance improved productivity.

Lazarus Kingsley, a horticulturist based in Isolo, Lagos, said in a chat with Business A.M. that horticulture is a lucrative and viable venture in Nigeria. According to him, the business is not capital-intensive as one can start the business with as little as N20,000.

Kingsley blamed lack of awareness for the low number of horticulturists in the country, noting that many people are not knowledgeable about what the business entails and are of the opinion that horticulture is only for beautification.

He identified some of the major challenges confronting horticulture to include inadequate knowledge and technology of production, insufficient planting materials, land tenure, difficulty in accessing water/high prices of water during the dry season, and hike in prices of inputs.

To fast-track the process of increased production and marketing of horticulture products for economic exploitation, Kingsley emphasised on increased awareness of the economic, medicinal and nutritional values.