The federal government has received the report of a Technical Committee formed to prevent the rejection of the country’s agro-exports.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo, remarked that the Committee’s recommendations will boost the export basket of agricultural products and the nation’s foreign exchange profits when he received the report in Abuja.
Mr Adebayo said; “It would be recalled that I inaugurated this Committee on 26th May 2022, to look into the rejection of our agro-exports in the international market and proffer recommendations to stop the menace.”
The Committee has six weeks to finish its task and is composed of representatives from pertinent Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as well as the Organised Private Sector.
The Minister commended the members of the Committee for the time and efforts invested to complete the assignment.
He expressed confidence in the quality and calibre of members of the Committee to deliver.
The Chairman of the Committee and the Director of the Commodities and Export Department of the Ministry, Suleman Audu stated that the government should embark on a sensitisation and awareness programme on the need for farmers and operators in the agriculture value chain to secure and adopt Global GAP certifications in collaboration with the Private Sector.
Mr Audu stated that the Agriculture and Trade Ministries should work with Research Institutes to increase R&D activities in order to improve productivity, products, packaging, and labeling requirements.