The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ernest Umakihe, warned that Nigeria might soon resort to importing yam from China due to the country's failure to capitalize on its global yam output dominance.
Umakihe expressed his concerns during a stakeholders workshop on yam as an export crop, highlighting Nigeria's absence in the league of yam exporting nations despite its significant yam production share.
He emphasized the potential threat posed by Chinese yam imports to the local market, which could exacerbate unemployment and reduce income for yam farmers.
Umakihe criticized past attempts at yam exportation, citing poor planning and execution. He urged stakeholders to investigate past failures and devise effective strategies to revitalize Nigeria's yam export sector.
The workshop theme, "Prospects and Challenges of Yam Export in Nigeria," underscored the need for collective action to address the underlying issues hindering successful yam exportation from Nigeria.
Umakihe's remarks shed light on the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and strategic planning to leverage Nigeria's yam production capacity for international trade and economic growth.
