Firm, NEPC sensitizes Enugu State farmers on export business
No fewer than 120 local farmers in Nsukka axis of Enugu State have been sensitized and taught procedures for exporting their produce to earn foreign exchange and get more money from their yields.
At the seminar on Thursday, Dr Uchenna Anikwe, Export Consultant with Ski-Business Solutions Limited, also introduced the farmers to quick grow and high yield seedlings in palm fruits and jumbo-cashew nuts.
Anikwe said that the sensitization was meant to reposition the farmers for effective export business.
The seminar was organized by Ski-Business Solutions Limited in collaboration with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Udoamaka Diogbe Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited.
The seminar had the theme: “Innovative Seminar on Cashew Nuts Production and Processing, Export Promotion and Mechanized Farming” and a sub-theme: “The Declining Cashew Nuts for Export and the Way Forward”.
“The essence of the seminar is to ensure that local farmers key into export business that will grow the nation’s economy.
“There are lots of our local produce wasting that can be harnessed and processed up to international standard for export, and they will fetch hard currency for the farmers and make the farming business highly lucrative.
“This seminar is meant to get these farmers thinking, ensure reduction in waste of local produce, teach them how to farm and package their produce for export purpose and earn money in dollars,’’ the consultant said.
Anikwe, who is also the Traditional Ruler of Diogbe Community in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, said that the seminar would make farmers see the export values of local produce and other materials available locally.
“We want them to know that the Federal Government has granted license for a Domestic Export Warehouse in Akwuke community within Enugu state in order to facilitate international export trade within the South-East and beyond.
“The warehouse will hopefully be functional before the end of the year and it will ease the bottlenecks involved in export in the region.
“We are introducing them to quick grow and high yield seedlings that will replace aged or low yield seedlings in farms, so that they have more yield and also meet international specifications.
“Most important, they (farmers) should get ready to ensure all our local produce are preserved and packaged for export; such that soon there will be no more waste of produce on any farm,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Emmanuel Dimike, a representative from the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said that presently all farm produce could be exported except maize.
He said that Nsukka cashew, yellow pepper, ogbono, egusi, scent leaves among others were highly needed.
Dimike, who is with South-East NEPC Regional Office, said that the council was out to assist all exporters with knowledge and counsel to ensure that the export packages are of international standard and acceptability.
Dr Pauline Obianuko, from the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, noted the importance of leveraging research, innovation and technological-digital platforms to streamline export operations.
He said that leveraging these platforms would help add value to the produce.
Obianuko, who was one of the facilitators, said “there is a need for rural agriculture entrepreneurs to have insights to effectively position themselves in the global marketplace.
“This will make rural farmers’ giants in export business while reducing the nation’s import.’’
One of the participants, Mr Chukwuemeka Elias, said that the seminar had highly enlightened him on standard practice for export.
Elias said that the seminar would go a long way in gradually turning most importers to exporters in the South-East.
Another participant, Very Rev. Fr. S.N. Ugwueze, Director, Justice and Peace Commission, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, thanked the organisers of the seminar for uplifting the economic status of the rural farmers in Nsukka and its environs.
Ugwueze, however, urged that more of the seminars be organised in Nsukka and its environs, saying that the Catholic Church and other churches would collaborate to ensure more people got into the export business.
“It is good for our people to key in and get zealous to improve their economic well-being and capacity through guided export business tailored to succeed. This move will create jobs and reduce poverty among us,” he added.
NAN / Foluke Ibitomi
