Location (States):
Rivers, Cross river, Imo, Anambra, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Oyo,
Kwara, Enugu, Kogi, Abia and Ekiti

Annual Production (Metric Tonnes): 
751,000

Industrial uses:
Fruit juice, Jam production, Papain production

Process Technology/Equipment:   
Fruit juice production: fruit sorting,  cleaning, slicing, pulping, homogenizing, bottling, pasteurizing

Jam production

Sorting, pulverizing, mixing with sugar and boiling

Papain production

Incision of green fruits, collection of latex, drying, purification, testing, packaging, storage.

Equipment
Jam production Equipments
Sorter, cleaners, slicer, pulper, blenders, pasteurizer, blenders, filling machine.

Papain production Equipment

Razor blade/knives, collectors, cabinet dryer, centrifuge, vacuum desiccator, packers

Status/Prospects:   
Global fresh papaya imports are expected to increase by 46% to 118,000 tonnes by year 2005 (F.A.O. 2000).  Nigeria has the potential of producing papaya but will be limited by transportation logistics of reaching potential markets of the developed Countries. However, NIHORT's work on local papain production  may encourage local production of papaya for would be papain processors
      
R&D Activities:      
Not available.