Green, red, and ruby red apples are imported because they cannot grow in tropical climate. Nigerians living in urban areas are familiar with these varieties that gulp millions of dollars in imports.
Oluwagbenga Akinyemi
But of all apple varieties, the Nigerian tropical bell apple bears the bell with its long list of health advantages. The fruit tree may be growing right inside your compound and you never discover its wealth and job creation potentials.
But that low estimation of bell apple ended last week after Oluwagbenga Akinyemi, an agriculture expert, drew the attention of TheNiche to this unusual business he has been trying to popularise since 2008.
He said bell apple is safer than imported ones sprayed with preservation chemicals, and disclosed how individuals can make extra income growing it.
Bell apple wealth creation
According to Akinyemi, a graduate of Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State, growing bell apple is something the government can promote for wealth and job creation for youths.
Both the apple and its fruit seedlings can generate a lot of revenue.
“Depending on the size, a fruit is sold for about N50 or N100 and the tree bears over 1,000 fruits every fruiting season. I also sell the seeds. I teach people how to raise seedlings,” he said.
“Seedlings of three to four months can be sold for N1,500. Six months old seedling can be sold for N2,500 and nine months old seedling can be sold for N3,500.
“I wish state governments can buy into this farming innovation because youths can make a living from it. Since it takes about three years for a tree to start bearing fruit from the day the seed is planted, forward looking states can invest in the plantation and then hand over to unemployed youths when they start fruiting so these ones can earn income.”
If the government encourages large scale cultivation of bell apple, it can serve as an alternative to imported apple and the country can earn revenue from its export in the future.
“It is home grown, and has the benefit of eating it in its wholesome nature better than the imported varieties. It can be used in the production of fresh juice, fruit concentrates, wine and also jams and marmalade.”
Though the tree grows in every part of Nigeria, the South South states – Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Balyesa, and Edo – where the soil is clay-loamy and the climate quite clement is more suitable for its cultivation.
Bell apple health benefits
The fruit has a sweet sour taste, and any fruit with such taste likely has medicinal values, Akinyemi added.
“Majorly, the health benefits are numerous. The fruit is very nutritious, and good for the health. It is safer than the imported ones that have been sprayed with chemicals.
“It is great for digestion because it is a good remedy for digestive disorders and chronic dysentery. The trunk and branches are also beneficial in curing diarrhoea, dysentery and many more.”
Bell apple is bigger in size than imported apple; it is very attractive, and highly nutritious. Schools and golf clubs can grow the tree to beautify their environment. “This is better than planting trees that have no economic value.”
Motivation for start up
Akinyemi had worked as manager on different farms before he experimented on bell apple in 2006 after he was attracted by its reddish and plump nature. He was amazed that such a fruit was available in the country but nobody paid attention to it.
Everywhere he went with it, he was told it was not quite common. It was in the course of experiment he discovered the health benefits. He now runs a consultancy teaching individuals and organisations how to use this farming model to create jobs.
Akinyemi expressed regret that bell apple is not on the market because of low level awareness, saying people would not normally ask for it without direct marketing.
Waiting to hear from Lagos, Delta govts
“But once they taste it, they ask for more. People love its sweet and sour taste. So, I have been going round the country to create the awareness. I wrote a proposal to the Lagos State government but there was no response.
He also sent a proposal to the Delta State government on how the cultivation of bell apple can create jobs and wealth. He was invited for discussion in December last year but has not got a feed back since then.
“Mine is a pioneering effort. Not enough is being done about financing of agricultural projects, and that is not encouraging. Though the government has made some efforts, it is not enough and that is not encouraging individuals to go into agriculture.”
