10 crops Nigeria should aspire to be the world’s undisputed number number one producer of by 2025 just as we currently are for yam, cassava, kolanuts and shea nuts

Ayo Akinfe

(1) Coconuts
(2) Cashews
(3) Cocoa
(4) Palm oil
(5) Plantain
(6) Groundnuts
(7) Neem
(8) Gum arabic
(9) Millet
(10) Sorghum

As part of the post-coronavirus economic recovery plan, we should build a food processing industry around these crops. This should involve the construction of processing plants, railway lines, export terminals, silos, warehouses, etc.

State governors have to be the ones driving this programme. The need to get local farmers to form cooperatives, woo international processors and attract investment to develop their infrastructure.

Products we should aim to produce from all these crops should include:

(1) Packaged food
(2) Snacks
(3) Animal feed compound
(4) Biofuel
(5) Beer
(6) Soft drinks
(7) Chocolate products like bars and cakes
(8) Beverages that can compete with tea and coffee
(9) Soaps and detergents
(10) Industrial lubricants