PEDA sees $1.5bn horticulture export market opportunity for farmers

The Produce Export Development Alliance (PEDA) has urged farmers to tap into the $1.5 billion horticulture export market opportunity to earn foreign exchange.

Adetiloye Continental, chief executive officer of PEDA made the call at the organisation’s relaunch in Lagos over the weekend, noting that farmers and investors should focus on producing exportable agricultural produce.

“The global horticulture market is about $1.5 billion, yet Africa contributes only 4 percent to horticulture export,” he said.

He explained that the vision of the organisation is to see farmers fully tap into the vast horticultural export market, which according to him is still under-utilised due to poor standard compliance amongst many agribusinesses and farmers.

“What we hope to do is to connect the vast horticultural and agribusinesses in a way that will bring about dramatic shifts in the food value chain. This connection will include logistics and service providers,” Continental said.

He said PEDA will leverage its international connections by providing agribusinesses with the necessary network which will help to strategically access international markets.

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“Our mission is to provide a world-class opportunity for agribusinesses to network within the space, and access international and local markets. Also, we aim to create opportunities for business development through trade missions, facilitations and events,” he stressed.

Based on available data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria earned N20.56 trillion from agricultural exports in nine months of 2024, reflecting the huge market opportunity for farmers.

Continental said the organisation aims to be at the forefront of the export market in Africa’s most populous nation and with its over 500 members, believes that is possible in the near future.

According to him, it is a goal of PEDA to train farmers on agricultural policies and production.

Similarly, Olufemi Oladunni, executive director of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, said that Nigeria has arable and fertile land to feed its 200 billion people.

“We need to start thinking about how to produce not just for ourselves but for other people,” he said. “We also must get to a point where our food produce consistently meets international market standards.”

Oladunni called on farmers and agribusinesses to strive towards producing healthy and safe farm produce that can be exported without issues.

Jane Omojokun, chief executive officer of NUGATA Consults Limited, stressed that Nigeria cannot be at the forefront of agricultural export if acceptable international export standards are followed, which she said has to start from the farm.

Formerly known as the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN), PEDA has been at the forefront of promoting Nigeria’s horticultural sector.

The relaunch brought together about 30 agribusiness people as well as farmers from all over the country who contributed to the event.