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| TROPICAL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES |
Large
scale production of tropical fruits has hitherto not been encouraged locally
because of the existing poor transportation and storage facilities.
Farmers cannot easily reach both local and international markets, thus
resulting in high post-harvest losses.
However the projected world increase in demand for tropical fruits
and the current bright market potentials for local fruit juice production is
expected to stimulate local production.
Large opportunities also exist locally for the production of jam,
jelly, and juice concentrates for soft drinks industries, fruit flavours,
colouring and wines. Tropical
fruits produced in the country are: Citrus
(Sweet orange, tangerine, grapes fruit, lemon, lime), pine apple, guava,
pawpaw, mango etc.
Small quantities of pineapple have been traditionally exported to Europe
from Nigeria and some other African countries.
Potentials also exist for large scale production of papain from
pawpaw which is commonly grown in most ecological zones of the country.
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