Fruit farmers have been advised to conduct risk
assessment of new agricultural sites prior to the use of the land. Dr
Sunday Akinyemi, Head, Fruits and Spices Department of the National
Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), gave the advice during
interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ibadan Ibadan on
Saturday. Akinyemi added that soil types should be mapped for the farm
and to plan rotation, planting and growing programmes. He urged fruit
farmers to always consider availability and quality of water, pest and
diseases as well as weed levels in the area. The expert also advised
fruit farmers to focus on planning and management of fruit farming.
“Regular advice should be sought on how to get access
to improved, sustainable fruit production technologies and tools”, he
said.
He said fruits were economically important as farmers
could reap large yields in small areas and be sold at high prices
compared to crops such as maize and groundnuts.
“This means that in heavily populated areas, farmers
can make good incomes even from small farms if they can get the
principles of production, processing and marketing right”, he stressed.