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This article by Financial Nigeria dissect the key reasons why current government policy of increasing Yam export without any value added could be a disaster for Nigeria.
Here are the key points mentioned by Martins Hile, editor, Financial Nigeria magazine
- The yam export programme negate the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari aims to plug the productivity gap and fix the supply chains.
- With $8 billion is targeted in foreign exchange earnings annually from yam exports. The writer opined that the figure was bandied about without details on the projected quantity of exports vis-à-vis the country's total production and what would be available for domestic consumption. It was also unclear what efforts were being made to increase yam production or reduce post-harvest loss and waste.
- The programme provides the sense that rather than driving industrialisation of agriculture, the government is prioritising low-hanging fruits of commodity exports, thereby perpetuating the narrative of Nigeria as a commodity dependent developing country (CDDC).
- With over 70% of her land area arable, Nigeria has long been ripe for an agriculture revolution. Cassava, yam, maize, rice, sorghum, soybeans and many other farm produce are industrial crops. But the revolution cannot be realised simply by tapping export markets for primary farm produce. There has to be a modernisation of food production, processing and distribution methods. The supply chains, including logistics, marketing, and financing, have to be strengthened.
The article concluded that instead of exporting yam tubers to be processed in Europe and United States or for consumption by the African diaspora, Nigeria should be exporting instant-pounded yam flour, livestock feed, spray starch and other value-added yam products.
Here are the key points mentioned by Martins Hile, editor, Financial Nigeria magazine
- The yam export programme negate the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari aims to plug the productivity gap and fix the supply chains.
- With $8 billion is targeted in foreign exchange earnings annually from yam exports. The writer opined that the figure was bandied about without details on the projected quantity of exports vis-à-vis the country's total production and what would be available for domestic consumption. It was also unclear what efforts were being made to increase yam production or reduce post-harvest loss and waste.
- The programme provides the sense that rather than driving industrialisation of agriculture, the government is prioritising low-hanging fruits of commodity exports, thereby perpetuating the narrative of Nigeria as a commodity dependent developing country (CDDC).
- With over 70% of her land area arable, Nigeria has long been ripe for an agriculture revolution. Cassava, yam, maize, rice, sorghum, soybeans and many other farm produce are industrial crops. But the revolution cannot be realised simply by tapping export markets for primary farm produce. There has to be a modernisation of food production, processing and distribution methods. The supply chains, including logistics, marketing, and financing, have to be strengthened.
The article concluded that instead of exporting yam tubers to be processed in Europe and United States or for consumption by the African diaspora, Nigeria should be exporting instant-pounded yam flour, livestock feed, spray starch and other value-added yam products.
