By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has blamed the rate of poverty as one of the challenges facing the horticulture industry.
Horticulture is the art of cultivating plants in gardens to produce food and medicinal ingredients, or for comfort and ornamental purposes.
Horticulturists are agriculturists who grow flowers, fruits and nuts, vegetables and herbs, as well as ornamental trees and lawns.
Speaking on the challenges facing them, a retired NIHORT Director, Afolayan Stephen Olaoye, said: “unqualified and untrained vendors hijacking the industry; lack of standardisation among the actors; inadequate facilities for nursery activities; low interest due to the poverty in the land. “
A gardener, Sunday Temi who has spent over 14 years in the business, also described lack of water supply as another challenge that cripples botanical gardening.
Joe Abel has been in botanical gardening since 2019 in Port Harcourt.
He added that he uses a nearby stream as a major source of water for his plants. He complained of lack of patronage and illegal movement of herders and scavengers as his major challenges.