Following increasing demand from within and outside Nigeria, the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, has taken steps to increase the production of Bell Peppers it started few years ago.
Receiving the freshly harvested peppers from a team led by Professor Ayoola Olalusi of the Department of Agriculture Engineering and his technical team , the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji expressed her delight in the continuation in production of the pepper in the green house of the University, promising to scale it up.
Prof. Oladiji said “We are building more Green Houses soon, taking it from one to six before the end of the year. This is because we also want to ensure that those who want to be trained in its production have ample places and also because of increasing demand. The market is waiting for us. We have increased demands of the product all over the country and we cannot afford to disappoint our clients.
” FUTA is not paying lip service to food security and we are ready to partner with governments and organization to make this readily available at affordable prices. I know this pepper is a value addition to the common ones we have around. We can even take it global through exportation as we progress.”
Presenting the pepper, Prof. Olalusi said “We are here to present our new harvest to madam Vice Chancellor and to inform her that this product is in high demand in the market. With the promise to increase the house to six, I can boldly say that we are ready to further meet the market needs with the products which comes in colours Green, Yellow and Red.”
Bell peppers, also known as sweet peppers or paprika, are widely appreciated for their vibrant colors, mild sweetness, and culinary versatility.
Beyond their aesthetic and culinary value, bell peppers are rich in essential nutrients and bioactive compounds that contribute significantly to human health.
Nutritionally, bell peppers are low in calories while offering a dense supply of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A typical 100-gram serving of raw bell pepper contains approximately 31 kilocalories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 2.1 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of protein, and only 0.3 grams of fat.
Notably, they are an excellent source of vitamin C, with a single serving providing around 127 mg well over 150% of the recommended daily intake.
