Essential Ndubuisi
By Amarachukwu Okafor
In the past in Nigeria, the availability of mango could be likened to the biblical Manna from Heaven- it was virtually free.
One does not even have to harvest it, as it falls on its own and it is just to pick and eat, saving none for tomorrow.
However, it has now become scarce and very costly.
At the moment, just four pieces of the fruit is sold between the range of 200 to 300 naira.
Speaking, some of the fruit farmers who spoke to the ABS, Mrs. Gladys Nwude, Mrs. Victoria Okonkwo and Mrs. Cordelia Ugochukwu blamed the scarcity of mango this year to low harmattan season which is also the cause of the expensive mango in markets.
They noted that mango is a charitable fruit that has very important health benefits and pleaded on government to invest in mango plantation to help maximize the market to reduce its cost.
According to respondents, they share a bound of joy with the fruit while growing up in their villages and schools as it was common and free to all and noted that their love for patronizing Mango sellers is for the love of the fruit in their young days.
They noted that despite the cost implications, the fruit will always be cherished by all and suggested to investors and innovators to fashion out ways of preserving the fruit in order to make it all around season fruit that will be fresh for consumption.
