Reps recommend incentives, policy review to boost yam export

The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the Federal Government to boost yam tuber production through targeted incentives to the farmers from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Commercial Banks.

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This is as even the House urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to carry out policy reviews to regulate and supervise agencies responsible for yam exportation in Nigeria to boost Nigeria’s earning capacity and its external reserves.

The resolutions followed a motion co-sponsored by Akume Regina, member representing Gboko Tarkaa Federal Constituency, and Adedayo Samuel Adesola titled “Need to Formulate Policies that will foster Exportation and Boost Yam Production in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria”.

Moving the motion, Akume noted that yam is one of the most widely consumed food crops in Nigeria and a major cash crop cultivated in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria.

According to her, the producers of yam are heavily reliant on its consumers due to the lack of a proper storage system in place that guarantees its availability and freshness over a long period.

“The exportation of yam is highly recommended to boost Nigeria’s earning capacity, its external reserves, and its value chain.

” Unfortunately, exportation is not a thriving business option in Nigeria due to bottlenecks created by regulatory agencies.

“Worried that those engaged in the business of exportation do so outside the purview of the agencies responsible for promoting the trade by employing the services of local packaging producers or moving their operations to more business-friendly economies like Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Benin Republic.

“The Nigerian farmers are the primary suppliers of raw materials for the “Fresh Yam Produce in Ghana” she said.

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To this end, the House therefore mandated its Committee on Commerce to invite the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to give an update on promoting Nigeria’s export business.