By Admin
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole says the federal government is engaging critical stakeholders to ensure robust exportation of cash crops to enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Dr. Oduwole who stated this during the inauguration of the standing working group on food safety Compliance for cowpea and Sesame seed export in Abuja, observed that the two commodities were value chain products that could fast track economic development.
The Minister said the ministry was working on a systemic approach to raise the standard of farmers with the requisite skills to mitigate the negative regulatory consequence.
“It contributes significantly to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and provide livelihood for thousands of small holders farmers across African production States”
“However we are determined that they must translate into immediate actionable steps to widen the use of mechanised certification across Nigeria and we are consolidating all these corrective Initiatives into a single cohesive national strategy.”
Dr. Oduwole tasked the stakeholders to work towards lifting the Japanese export ban on Nigeria commodities and the re-entry into it’s market within ninety days.
On her part, the Executive Director of Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Mrs Nonye Ayeni said the council had commenced the validation of the base line study report of the on-going standards and Trade Development facility 845 project, to build the capacities of cowpea and sesame stakeholders and improve their practices in pesticide application and hygiene techniques.
“The standards and trade development facility 845 for cowpeas and Sesame is a 3 year counter part funding between International Trade Centre ,Geneva and Nigerian Export Promotion Council to enhance the quality of the two commodity exported and to ensure strict compliance with the pesticides residue level ans samola contamination .The partnership aimed to reduce rejection of Nigeria Cowpeas and Sesame exports in the global market.
Mrs. Ayeni commended the collaboration of the technical partners which had restored confidence and trust in global exporting zones pertaining to Cowpea and Sesame.
