Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Abayomi Olaniyan, has implored Nigerians to engage in plantain farming due to its high demand.

 

Olaniyan said this during training on Rapid Multiplication Techniques on Plantain Production for plantain and banana farmers in the country at the NIHORT headquarters, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan.

 

According to him, “At the moment, Nigeria is the fifth largest plantain-producing country in the world, and such training would further take us higher on the global production ladder.”

 

“The major focus of the training is to reveal new methods of cultivating plantain and banana to farmers, and this will help boost their profits in the business.” He added

 

Olaniyan stressed that the country is blessed with a favourable climate for cultivation and production of the commodity.

 

“One thing about plantain is that it can be grown anywhere, and water is the only thing needed to make it grow well. As a result of this, farmers can boost their income, while Nigeria can earn more through exportation of the produce,”  He noted.