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Yam farmers and traders in Adoka town in Otukpo local government Zaki-Biam in Benue State have requested the federal government's help in fast tracking fertilizers and other local facilities as part of efforts to boost production and meet the exportation of the government. Aderemi Ojekunle, who spoke to some of yam farmers in Benue state capture their minds, challenges in the yam business and how government could help them in ensuring high and quality yields.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, shortly after the launch of the yam export programme, reassured Nigerians that the policy will not affect local consumption.
Specifically, on June, 29, 2017, a consignment of 72 metric tons of yam left the shores of Nigeria to Europe and the US, essentially setting the stage for the country’s return to the global yam value chain as a dominant player in the world market.
"The interest of federal government in the exportation of yam has made us to expand our businesses and more committed in ensuring high and quality yields," Mrs. Oloto Abigail, a farmer said.
She said at this time that many are planting, there is need for the government to help in making sure farmers get adequate credit facilities to be able to produce get yields at the end of the day.
Yam Export Initiative
Nigeria is targeting about $8bn as annual foreign exchange from the exportation of yams to other countries if its yam export programme succeeds.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, who flagged off the initiative in June 2017 said it is a move to substitute foreign exchange earnings from oi and gas sector to the agricultural produce.
According to him, Ghana is exporting yams but Nigeria is not despite accounting for 61 per cent of the world yam production.
But a Yam farmers, Haruna Amza, said the interest of individual farmers have increased with the announcement but the farmers need incentive to expand business.
“We have developed interest since it is an incentive to make more money and expand business.
“So more people here are committed in ensuring high and quality yields
“We just want to government to continue to help us grow,” he said.
Amza's wife, Mrs. Fatimah added that farmers needs latest equipment to be able to cultivate and standardise yams that will not be rejected at the international markets.
Government's Action
The Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme is partnering with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to provide improved yam seedlings to the farmers.
The team is expected to train farmers on best agronomic practices for yam farming to avoid rejection of the produce at the international markets.
Prof. Simon Irtwange, the Chairman of the committee had said that poor agronomic practices during farming contributed to the rejection of the country’s produce at the international market, hence the need for the training.
Federal government should help us
Many believed that the present administration of present would have helped to cater for the economy which largely depends on the survival of any business in the country. For the farmers, climate change with irregular rains have contributed negatively to their plight even diseases eat up their crop.
Mrs Elizabeth Nwankwo, a yam exporter, representing Oklan Best Limited, listed some challenges experienced by exporters to include inadequate transportation and lack of quality seedlings.
She explained that inadequate storage facilities also contributed to the rejection of the country’s agricultural produce at the international markets.
For Mrs. Oloto: “Easy access to fertilizers and credit facilities to acquire new farming equipments will go a long way to achieve maximum market at the international level for the government and farmers.”
“When there is money, there is everything and we can produce in large quantity that can be exported and price of yam can reduce when the market is flood with the produce”.
Mr. Amzat wants the government to carry local farmers and let them benefit maximally in the exportation process.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, shortly after the launch of the yam export programme, reassured Nigerians that the policy will not affect local consumption.
Specifically, on June, 29, 2017, a consignment of 72 metric tons of yam left the shores of Nigeria to Europe and the US, essentially setting the stage for the country’s return to the global yam value chain as a dominant player in the world market.
"The interest of federal government in the exportation of yam has made us to expand our businesses and more committed in ensuring high and quality yields," Mrs. Oloto Abigail, a farmer said.
She said at this time that many are planting, there is need for the government to help in making sure farmers get adequate credit facilities to be able to produce get yields at the end of the day.
Yam Export Initiative
Nigeria is targeting about $8bn as annual foreign exchange from the exportation of yams to other countries if its yam export programme succeeds.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, who flagged off the initiative in June 2017 said it is a move to substitute foreign exchange earnings from oi and gas sector to the agricultural produce.
According to him, Ghana is exporting yams but Nigeria is not despite accounting for 61 per cent of the world yam production.
But a Yam farmers, Haruna Amza, said the interest of individual farmers have increased with the announcement but the farmers need incentive to expand business.
“We have developed interest since it is an incentive to make more money and expand business.
“So more people here are committed in ensuring high and quality yields
“We just want to government to continue to help us grow,” he said.
Amza's wife, Mrs. Fatimah added that farmers needs latest equipment to be able to cultivate and standardise yams that will not be rejected at the international markets.
Government's Action
The Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme is partnering with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to provide improved yam seedlings to the farmers.
The team is expected to train farmers on best agronomic practices for yam farming to avoid rejection of the produce at the international markets.
Prof. Simon Irtwange, the Chairman of the committee had said that poor agronomic practices during farming contributed to the rejection of the country’s produce at the international market, hence the need for the training.
Federal government should help us
Many believed that the present administration of present would have helped to cater for the economy which largely depends on the survival of any business in the country. For the farmers, climate change with irregular rains have contributed negatively to their plight even diseases eat up their crop.
Mrs Elizabeth Nwankwo, a yam exporter, representing Oklan Best Limited, listed some challenges experienced by exporters to include inadequate transportation and lack of quality seedlings.
She explained that inadequate storage facilities also contributed to the rejection of the country’s agricultural produce at the international markets.
For Mrs. Oloto: “Easy access to fertilizers and credit facilities to acquire new farming equipments will go a long way to achieve maximum market at the international level for the government and farmers.”
“When there is money, there is everything and we can produce in large quantity that can be exported and price of yam can reduce when the market is flood with the produce”.
Mr. Amzat wants the government to carry local farmers and let them benefit maximally in the exportation process.
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