Council Tasks Potato Farmers In Plateau State

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has tasked potato farmers in Plateau State on the need to produce high quality products to meet global export requirements, describing the crop as a “quick- win commodity’’ because of its export potential.

Specifically, the Executive Director of NEPC, Dr Ezra Yakusak, stated this at a day strategic engagement with stakeholders in Irish Potato production in Bokkos, Jos – south Local Government Area of the state.

Yakusak stressed the need to promote the commodity as part of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

Represented by a Deputy Director, Mr Samson Monehin, the NEPC boss called for intensive development and promotion of the crop. His words: “The main purpose of this initiative is to have an economy that does not depend on a single drop of oil revenue to survive. The realisation of this dream is premised on massive production and marketing of pre-qualified and selected products in targeted markets. It is our belief that irish potato, by its production and export potential, belongs to this category of quick-win products that should be targeted for intensive development and promotion.Yakusak urged stakeholders to take advantage of the training and exposure to boost productivity and explore export opportunities of the potato commodity.”

Further speaking, he said “We feel a need to further enhance your capacity to produce high quality potato crops that would attract premium prices at the international market. This is with a view to boosting your export in line with the focus of the Zero-Oil Plan. It is also to upscale our game for a better share of the potato export market.”

Agro Nigeria