Ernest Umakihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has raised concerns about the possibility of Nigeria importing yam from China for local consumption. He made this statement during a stakeholders workshop focused on repositioning yam as an export crop.
Despite Nigeria contributing 67% of the global yam output, Umakihe noted the country's absence from the list of yam exporting nations. He highlighted the threat posed by China's entry into yam exportation and warned of potential unemployment among Nigerians and decreased income for yam farmers if action is not taken promptly.
Umakihe mentioned past unsuccessful attempts at yam exportation by Nigerian states and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. He criticized the lack of proper planning in these endeavors, emphasizing the need for thorough preparation before execution.
The official urged Nigerians to investigate the shortcomings of previous export attempts and devise effective strategies to address them, stressing the importance of revitalizing the yam export industry in Nigeria.
No comments:
Post a Comment