Why can’t I have an Orange? Public-­‐Private sector policy and fresh produce production in Nigeria

Abstract

It is widely believed that healthy diets rich in fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) offer significant benefits for people’s well-being. This is based on the tenet that a nourishing diet must contain varieties from several food groups. People’s diet often reflects their national food production pattern. In Ogun State (OG), Nigeria, low consumption of F&Vs is attributed to inadequate production of F&Vs. Farmers are not motivated to grow more F&Vs due to lack of economic incentives. This project analyzed the effect of public-private sector policies on production of F&Vs in OG, focusing on land, seed, and safety policies within advocacy coalition framework. The analysis revealed gaps in institutional land, seed, and safety policies that have led to low production of F&Vs. Review of Washington State institutional policies on land, seed and safety with respect to F&Vs production provides insights on modern practices. The results permitted generalizable recommendations that could improve farm F&Vs output in OG.