Plateau State produces over 90 per cent of the fruits and vegetables which Nigerians consume, says the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Linda Barau.
Barau made this declaration, on Thursday, at the maiden edition of the state’s Agricultural Summit in Jos.
“I make bold to say that because of our very clement weather, soil and water resources, Plateau can cultivate all the crops that are grown in any part of Nigeria in commercial quantities.
“It is undisputable that Plateau State is the home of fruits and vegetables; these include carrot, cucumber, broccoli, strawberry, soursop, lemon, cabbage, grape, asparagus and many others.
“It is a known fact that we produce 90 per cent of the fruits and vegetables that are consumed in Nigeria,’’ she added.
Barau said that Plateau could even produce those crops, which were categorised as purely temperate crops, in commercial quantities; hence its appellation as the “Home of Fruits and Vegetables’’.
She said that for instance, the state produced more than 95 per cent of the Irish potato consumed in Nigeria, while exporting potato to neighbouring West African countries.
She, therefore, called on investors to take due advantage of the investment opportunities existing in the state’s agricultural sector.
She, however, said that tangible efforts should be made to put in place storage, processing and marketing facilities for the agricultural produce of the state. (NAN)