Nigeria produces 1.54 million tonnes of pineapple annually, yet continues to miss out on the $27 billion global pineapple market, according to industry stakeholders.

The National Pineapple Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NPGPMA) says the country’s biggest challenge is massive post-harvest losses, with up to 50% of harvested pineapples wasted due to poor handling, inadequate storage, and weak cold-chain systems.

Nigeria also lacks modern processing facilities, which prevents farmers from converting raw fruit into value-added products such as juice, concentrates, and canned pineapple, the segment where global profits are highest.

Quality gaps, inconsistent grading, and outdated farming practices further undermine Nigeria’s export competitiveness. Despite high production, the country still meets only about half of its domestic demand and imports pineapple from neighbouring countries.

Experts warn that Nigeria loses billions in revenue each year and call for investments in processing plants, storage infrastructure, and farmer training to help the country secure a foothold in the global pineapple industry. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.