ibironkeeniola The lack of quality control and bespoke measures have been identified as factors limiting the demand for Nigerian produce in the global market.
This was according to Agric Expert and Managing Director of Green Sahara Farm, Suleiman Dikwa, who disclosed this in an interview with The Guardian.
Dikwa noted that with adequate measures in place, Nigeria’s agricultural produce would receive wide acceptance overseas.
He said that agric produce from other countries including Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have a higher preference because of their attention to standards and measures.
The MD also berated the practice of bagging Nigerian produce in Ghanaian sacks for exports to ‘wrongly’ leverage the comparative advantage of other countries among international buyers.
He also urged perpetrators to desist from sand filling agric produce in a bid to get premium profits.
“We have seen a factory in Abuja, where people are using Ghana sacks to sell our cashew nuts, cocoa bean, during the border closure.
“A lot of times, exporters don’t sell through the Nigerian ports to get that premium; they go through Ghana because by just crossing the border you make $50 extra,” Dikwa said.
He further urged that standard operating procedures should be established for farm produce as well as a quality system for both domestic and international markets.
This measure, he said, would improve trade and reap in more revenue for the nation.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA