An Agriprenure, Ambassador Segun Alabi has called on Nigerian youths to embrace pineapple farming, for self sufficiency, instead of the ‘japa syndrome’, which he described as modern day slavery.
Alabi also called on both the federal and state governments to provide enabling environment that will make Nigerians, especially the youths to embrace agriculture, through provision of security and social amenities that will discourage rural-urban migration.
Alabi, who is the CEO of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited and founder of Davidorlah Farm, made the call while allocating pineapple farms to about 200 farmers, who had subscribed to it in his pineapple farms plantation, located in Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State.
He noted that the allocation marks a key milestone in the company’s mission to position Nigeria, as a leading pineapple exporter in the world in the next few years.
While describing pineapple farming as a lucrative business, Alabi noted that pineapple farms is immune to destruction by cattle, unlike other crops.
He said, “part of our goals in Davidorlah Farm is to elevate pineapple production in the country, and transform the country into one of the leading exporters of pineapples in the next few years, but today, Nigeria is number eight in countries that plant pineapple in the world”.
“Our goal is to make Davidorlah the largest pineapple exporter in the world, targeting 50,000 farmers in the next five years,” he explained.
“Pineapple cultivation has positive socio-economic implications and creates jobs for many people in rural areas, thereby contributing to reducing unemployment and poverty”.