China is prepared to be exporting some agricultural produce from Nigeria to meeting commercial and consumption purposes. The Chinese government has demanded dry yam from Nigeria to meet industrial and domestic needs.This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Thursday, in Abuja, which a technical working committee was inaugurated to fast track the exportation of yam by July 2017.
The Minister said Nigeria has remained one of the world’s largest producer of yam, which accounts for 61.7 per cent of the global production of the rot crop, while there are over 60 varieties of yam, but sadly, Nigeria not among yam exporting countries. He assured that local production and consumption of the commodity would not be affected by the move to export yam soon, rather government would scale up intervention in yam production, as farmers in the country have indicated willingness to increase production to meet both local and international demands. He noted that high level of yam production was going on in Zakibiam in Benue State, the Minister said government would leverage on it and also spread production across the entire country. However, he lamented Ghana, which produces far less than any yam producing state in Nigeria, has taken over the European market.
According to him yam consumed in the United States were imported from Ghana and a tuber of yam cost as high as $15. He said: “Ghana is controlling Africa’s yam export market where Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers. I am not sure if Ghana produces as much yam as any state of the federation”.
The Minister noted that the private sector driven committee was deliberate in other to guide the government on how to get a fair share of the global yam market. He noted that the Nigerian yam export promotion programme was aimed at taking Nigerian yam production, processing and marketing to next level in line with what is done in other country. He also emphasised the need to ensure that Nigerian agricultural produce meet the standard of foreign markets, and stressed the need for the country to design produce that would meet Nigerian health standard.
The minister tasked the committee to develop a framework for establishment of Nigeria yam export sea and airport where all documentation relating to the export are prepared, adding that they should facilitate acquisition warehouses at the receiving destination, rationalize the bureaucracy of export and enforcement agency located within one roof designated for Nigeria yam export park houses.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof Simon Tsange, said they have been doing underground work on the programme adding that the committee would ensure that in six months time, Nigerian yam would hit the international market.
I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years
Posted: at 24-02-2017 10:59 AM (7 years ago) | Hero
Hmm ! Good as it sound but I have mixed reaction .If only yam farming can be mechanized in rural areas ,gov,should support yam farming to boost production .If yam goes on export with regulated high price ,it will benefit farmers but domestic consumers will have to be paying more for yam .When there's high demand more than production then it will result to scarcity of the product ,thereby causing food shortage ,Yam is a staple food in west Africa and most notably Nigeria .Make una no export all the yam cum leave us hungry oooooo.Na petroleum hike we dey protest sooner or later Na Yam protest go carry go
Spare me
Posted: at 24-02-2017 11:45 AM (7 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Hmm ! Good as it sound but I have mixed reaction .If only yam farming can be mechanized in rural areas ,gov,should support yam farming to boost production .If yam goes on export with regulated high price ,it will benefit farmers but domestic consumers will have to be paying more for yam .When there's high demand more than production then it will result to scarcity of the product ,thereby causing food shortage ,Yam is a staple food in west Africa and most notably Nigeria .Make una no export all the yam cum leave us hungry oooooo.Na petroleum hike we dey protest sooner or later Na Yam protest go carry go
Excellent argument there. But do you know that the farmer make only 300 naira at best on each yam you buy today? The high cost come from middlemen who have to transport the yams to where you can buy them. And it not entirely the fault of the middlemen; they have to "settle" at various checkpoints on the road apart from the high cost of transportation. And again transporters are not totally to blame as well, when diesel price went up, they also have hike their price. This is a compressed version of the chain. I hope this helps you see how everything is linked. We currently produce more yam than we can eat in Nigeria, a lot of them go to waste. Some are turned into flour for amala. So this development is highly welcomed but other angles also need to be addressed to make it work.
Posted: at 26-02-2017 10:38 AM (7 years ago) | Newbie
Hmm ! Good as it sound but I have mixed reaction .If only yam farming can be mechanized in rural areas ,gov,should support yam farming to boost production .If yam goes on export with regulated high price ,it will benefit farmers but domestic consumers will have to be paying more for yam .When there's high demand more than production then it will result to scarcity of the product ,thereby causing food shortage ,Yam is a staple food in west Africa and most notably Nigeria .Make una no export all the yam cum leave us hungry oooooo.Na petroleum hike we dey protest sooner or later Na Yam protest go carry go
Excellent argument there. But do you know that the farmer make only 300 naira at best on each yam you buy today? The high cost come from middlemen who have to transport the yams to where you can buy them. And it not entirely the fault of the middlemen; they have to "settle" at various checkpoints on the road apart from the high cost of transportation. And again transporters are not totally to blame as well, when diesel price went up, they also have hike their price. This is a compressed version of the chain. I hope this helps you see how everything is linked. We currently produce more yam than we can eat in Nigeria, a lot of them go to waste. Some are turned into flour for amala. So this development is highly welcomed but other angles also need to be addressed to make it work.
Posted: at 26-02-2017 10:41 AM (7 years ago) | Newbie
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