FG: We’ll implement recommendations to stop agro-export rejection

The federal government says it will be implementing the recommendations of a technical committee set up to prevent the rejection of agro-exports from Nigeria.

Adeniyi Adebayo, minister of industry, trade and investment, said this while receiving the report from the committee.

Adebayo assured the committee of the political will to implement the recommendations.

He said the recommendations will go a long way to increase the export basket of agricultural commodities and foreign exchange earnings for the country.

“It would, therefore, require a synergy between the relevant ministries, departments and agencies and the private sector to yield these fruits,” he said.

“I am, however, convinced that beyond the strength of your recommendations, there is the need for adequate attention to their implementation.

“You all are aware that the government cannot do it alone, therefore, the cooperation of the private sector and other non-state actors will be critical in achieving the objective for which your committee was put in place.

“Suffice it to state that the recommendations of the technical committee are to be driven by the private sector with the government providing the enabling environment.”

The minister, further, urged stakeholders in the agro-export business to support the implementation of the recommendations.

In his remarks, Suleiman Audu, chairman of the committee, said food safety, technical barriers, non-adherence to best practices and disregard for basic requirements were largely responsible for the rejection of Nigeria’s agro-exports abroad.

Audu also advised the ministry to sensitise farmers and operators in the agricultural value chain, secure and adopt Global GAP certifications in collaboration with the private sector.

According to him, a dedicated budget to fund the Global GAP training was needed, traceability and certification of all their farmers, to enable their products to qualify for exports under the federal government initiative.

“The private sector should be enabled by the federal government to develop QR code traceability cards for the registration of all the operators and their agricultural commodities,” Audu said.

“This is to enhance transparency, traceability and engender visibility and acceptability for exportable agro commodities.”

Audu further called for collaboration between the ministries of agriculture and rural development and research institutes to scale up research and development activities critical to improving productivity, products, packaging and labelling requirements.

He also called for collaboration with Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing insurance and Agricultural liabilities (NIRSAL) SAT-C programme, to support logistics hubs and develop transportation facilities and aggregation facilities.

“This is to reduce overhead costs and create momentum for trade,” Audu added.

“The federal government, through FMITI, should enable the private sector to collaborate with all agencies involved in agro-export activities to create a one-stop shop through the use of technology (application programme interface – API), to enhance ease of export.

“The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in collaboration with FMITI should produce documents, jingles and offline promotional campaigns in major Nigerian languages.”

On his part, John Okakpu, alternate chairman, said the committee exhaustively deliberated on the problems of the rejections of Nigeria’s agro-export commodities in foreign markets and provided efficient and sustainable recommendations to the anomaly.

“It is worthy to note that the support and enablement from the government have stimulated some of our members from the organised private sector to come out to participate in the process of driving the agro-export activities in the country,” he said.

In May 2022, the federal government inaugurated a committee to examine and end rejection of Nigeria agro produce in the international market.