Nigeria Misses Banana Export Potential Despite Strong Production —FAO

News in Brief: 

— FAO data reveals that Nigeria is one of West Africa’s largest banana producers, producing an estimated 6.69 million tonnes of dessert bananas yearly between 2020 and 2024.

— Despite these numbers, Nigeria’s banana industry remains mostly domestic-oriented, compared to neighbouring countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which have developed stronger export industries.

According to data compiled by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), West Africa harvested nearly 8.7 million tonnes of bananas in 2024, accounting for about 28 per cent of Africa’s estimated 31.3 million tonnes that year.

Nigeria emerged as West Africa’s largest producer of dessert bananas. Between 2020 and 2024, the average annual dessert banana production was about 6.69 million tonnes. 

However, the country's banana export is low compared to others in the same region. Experts say this points to a broader gap between agricultural production and participation in higher-value international markets.  

Côte d’Ivoire Lead in Banana Exports

After Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire is West Africa’s second largest producer of dessert bananas. It produces an annual average of about 539,000 tonnes between 2020 and 2024.

While its production volume is a fraction of Nigeria’s, the country has built a significantly stronger position in export markets. Its banana plantations cover about 12,178 hectares, which translates to an estimated average yield of 44 tonnes per hectare.

Côte d’Ivoire is the continent's leading banana exporter, and commercial producers anchor its industry. Major players include Compagnie Fruitière through its subsidiary SCB, Belgium’s Sipef and French Caribbean conglomerate Groupe Bernard Hayot, which controls BANACI and BACIBAM. Small-scale farmers, including those working through cooperatives, also participate in the sector.

Nigeria Has Scale, But Smallholder Farmers Dominate Production

According to the food agency, an estimated 500,000 hectares are devoted to dessert banana cultivation in Nigeria. An area like that supports production on a scale unmatched elsewhere in West Africa.

However, local farmers dominate this production rather than a concentrated number of integrated commercial plantations.

Experts say export-oriented banana industries require more than high farm output. They also depend on coordinated production, consistent quality, packaging, cold-chain logistics, processing and reliable access to international markets.

Mali and Guinea Remain Largely Domestic Markets

Mali is ranked third among the region’s leading producers, with an average of 484,120 tonnes produced annually between 2020 and 2024. It has about 43,000 hectares under dessert banana cultivation.

Like Nigeria, Mali’s production is consumed almost entirely domestically, with exports remaining negligible. Its industry is also largely made up of family farmers organised under the Federation of Banana Producer Organisations (FOPB).

Guinea is ranked fourth, with an average production of 230,000 tonnes annually, over the same period. About 40,000 hectares are devoted to banana cultivation, with family farms, particularly in the Kindia region, accounting for much of the production.

Ghana's Strong Export Presence

With Ghana's banana-harvested area at just 11,000 hectares, it is fifth among West Africa’s major producers, with average annual output of nearly 124,000 tonnes between 2020 and 2024.

Also, despite producing far less than Nigeria, Ghana is the region’s second-largest banana exporter after Côte d’Ivoire. Its industry combines smallholder production with large commercial operators, including Golden Exotics Limited, a subsidiary of France’s Compagnie Fruitière; Volta River Estates Limited; and Musahat Farms Limited.

For Nigeria to move from production to exports, it requires stronger coordination across the value chain, including commercial-scale production, quality standards, logistics, storage, packaging and access to international buyers.