Nigeria is West Africa's largest producer of dessert bananas but lacks potential for export growth, according to a report. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows West Africa harvested nearly 8.7 million tons of bananas in 2024, about 28 per cent of Africa's estimated output of nearly 31.3 million tons. Nigeria produced an annual average of 6.69 million tons between 2020 and 2024, but most of this output is consumed domestically. Production is largely in the hands of local farmers rather than concentrated among large, integrated plantations, and about 500,000 hectares are devoted to dessert banana cultivation in Africa's most populous country.
Related Articles
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.