Farmer domesticates apple production to reduce Nigeria’s food import bill

Akinyemi Oluwagbenga an agronomist and a farmer, has domesticated apple production in the country to reduce the country’s food import bill.

According to Oluwagbenga, there is an amazing tropical variety that can now be produced in Nigeria I called Bell apple which grows very well in the humid tropical climate that we have in the country.

“I have planted 20 trees since lasted across the south west region. I had my first harvest in January this year which I sold in the market. I named it bell apple because it has a bell shape.

“Government should tap into this by encouraging the production of bell apple to reduce the country’s high import bill. With bell apple, Nigeria can start exporting and not importing apples,” he said.

Nigeria spent billions of naira importing various varieties of apples from South Africa, Europe, North America and Asia. Apples servers as raw materials to food and beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries in the country and can the fresh fruits can be eaten raw.

According to experts, there are around 7,500 types of apples currently in the world.

Bell apple is bigger in size, much attractive and has higher juice content than most Mediterranean of Temperate apples imported into the country. It is has a bell shape with a big brown seed at the centre of the apple.

Oluwagbenga said that the apple comes in different varieties and spectrum of colours which are pinkish red, green and cream. He stated that he currently grows only the red variety in the country and will commence planting other varieties with time.

In his words, “Bell apple tree grows vigorously on a range of soil types from sand to heavy clay. It tolerates moderately acid soil and reacts unfavourably to highly alkaline situations.  The propagation of the seeds is big and brown.”

“The seeds germinate readily.  Many sprout on the ground under the tree.  While seed propagation is common superior types are multiplied by budding onto their own seedlings,” he added.

Josephine Okojie