1.Pineapple cultivation refers to the organised agricultural production of Ananas comosus, a tropical perennial fruit crop grown for fresh consumption and industrial processing (juice, concentrates, canned fruit, fibre, vinegar and wine). It thrives in warm climates, well-drained sandy loam soils, and requires moderate rainfall.
Global Relevance
Globally, pineapple is one of the most traded tropical fruits. Major producers include Costa Rica, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and India. Pineapple plays a critical role in:
Export earnings
Agro-processing industries
Rural employment
Value-added food systems.
The global pineapple market is valued in billions of dollars annually, driven by rising demand for fresh fruit, juice, and health-oriented food products.
Local Relevance.
Benue State, widely known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket”, possesses agro-ecological conditions highly suitable for pineapple cultivation. While crops such as yam, rice and cassava dominate public attention, pineapple remains under-exploited despite its:
High market value per hectare
Short production cycle
Strong demand in urban Nigerian markets
Significant export and processing potential
2. Geographical Mapping within Benue State
LGAs and Areas with Natural Advantage
Pineapple cultivation—mostly at smallholder level—is practised or has strong potential in the following areas:
1. Vandeikya LGA
Towns/Villages: Tsar, Mbadede, Mbakyaha
Advantages:Deep, well-drained loamy soils
Moderate rainfall
Strong farming culture
Proven success with fruit crops
2. Konshisha LGA
Towns/Villages: Tse-Agberagba, Mbatsen
Advantages:
Undulating terrain ideal for drainage
Suitable rainfall pattern
Proximity to local markets
3. Oju LGATowns/Villages: Oju, Ibilla border communities
Advantages:
Warm climate year-round
Sandy-loam soils
Experience in fruit and vegetable production
4. Obi LGA
Advantages:
Transition zone between forest and savannah
Increasing interest in horticultural crops
5. Ado LGA
Advantages:
Suitable agro-climatic conditions
Cross-border trade opportunities with Enugu State
Why These Areas Are Best Suited
Rainfall range of 1,200–1,800 mm annually
Average temperature of 25–30°C
Low incidence of waterlogging
Availability of arable land
Labour availability and farming heritage
3. Historical & Cultural Linkages
While pineapple is not indigenous to Benue, its cultivation dates back to pre-colonial and early post-colonial trade exchanges, when missionaries and traders introduced exotic crops.
Culturally:Pineapple is widely consumed during festivals and ceremonies
It is valued as a hospitality fruit
Traditionally grown in compound farms and mixed cropping systems
These informal cultivation practices helped embed pineapple into local diets but never evolved into large-scale commercial systems.
4. Current Scale & Economic Contribution
Scale of Production
Predominantly smallholder-based (0.25–2 hectares)
Largely rain-fed
Minimal use of improved suckers
Low mechanisation
Economic Contribution (Estimates)
Employment: Thousands of smallholder farmers and traders
Revenue: Hundreds of millions of naira annually (largely informal)
Markets: Makurdi, Otukpo, Gboko, Abuja, Enugu
Despite favourable conditions, Benue contributes less than 5% of Nigeria’s total pineapple output—far below its potential.
5. Barriers & Challenges
Key Constraints
Lack of Improved Planting Materials
Poor access to high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties
Weak Value Chain DevelopmentNo major pineapple processing plants
High post-harvest losses
Infrastructure Deficits
Poor rural roads
Lack of cold storage and aggregation centres
Limited Access to Finance
Farmers rely on personal savings
Minimal participation of commercial banks
Policy Neglect
Pineapple absent from priority crop programmes
Little extension focus
Market Structure Issues
Price volatility
Dominance of middlemen
6. Future Potential & Economic Prosperity
Projected Economic Impact with Strategic Investment
If pineapple cultivation were intentionally developed over 10,000 hectares across Benue:
Direct Jobs: 40,000–60,000
Indirect Jobs: 100,000+ (processing, transport, marketing)
Annual Revenue: ₦40–₦60 billion
Export Earnings: Significant, especially to ECOWAS markets
Comparative Insights
Cross River State: Fruit cluster initiatives increased farmer incomes by over 200%
Ghana: Pineapple exports generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually
Benue can replicate and surpass these outcomes given its land availability and labour base.
7. Actionable Recommendations
Short-Term (1–2 Years)
Declare pineapple a priority horticultural cropEstablish certified sucker multiplication centres
Strengthen agricultural extension services
Support farmer cooperatives and aggregation centres
Medium to Long-Term (3–10 Years)
Develop pineapple processing hubs (juice, concentrates, dried fruit)
Introduce public-private partnerships (PPPs)
Improve rural roads and cold chain infrastructure
Promote export certification and standards
Encourage youth agripreneurship
Priority Investment Areas
Research and improved varieties
Agro-processing infrastructure
Market access and branding
Irrigation and climate-smart practices
Conclusion
Pineapple cultivation represents a high-value, under-utilised agricultural opportunity for Benue State. With intentional policy direction, infrastructure investment and private sector participation, pineapple can evolve from subsistence farming into a major driver of rural income, employment and export diversification—further solidifying Benue’s status as Nigeria’s true food and agribusiness powerhouse.
