By Raphael Enwelu
Prof. Ikechukwu Ojukwu, Department of Microbiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has called on interested individuals and groups to grow apples in large quantity in Nigeria.
Ojukwu, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday, said the abundance of apple in the country would curb importation.
“I have a farm at Nnobi which I have developed for the purpose of growing apple.
“People from far and near have been visiting the farm to gain knowledge of how to start theirs.
“When such is spread all over the country, there will not be need to be importing apples which comes from Ghana and Cameroon because they have the soil for growing apple,’’ he said.
Ojukwu called on agricultural stakeholders at the federal, state and local government levels to support the effort.
“There are enormous financial gains in it which will boost the nation’s GDP,” he said.
