NEPC Moves to Improve Quality of Exported Products

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, has said the council is taking steps to improve the quality of exported products, particularly cashew and rice.

During an interactive session with stakeholders in the cashew and rice value chains in Abuja, Ayeni revealed this development.

She also stressed that exporters’ adherence to acceptable agricultural practices would enhance global sales and generate revenue for both the exporters and the nation as a whole.

“This initiative was carried out to implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in August 2023 between NEPC and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Market-Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (GIZ-MOVE).

“It’s important to note that in 2022, Nigeria’s rice production amounted to 5.4 million metric tonnes of milled rice and approximately 300,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts.

Speaking further, she said “We deliberately invited small, medium, and large-scale farmers, aggregators, processors, service providers, and exporters.

“The program will include a mini display of products to allow for an on-the-spot assessment of the current production, packaging, and labelling status.”

Agronigeria/Shakirat Sadiq