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[2010-02-25]
Nigeria realises N56.7b from agric produce export
| THE Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said that Nigeria realised about $378 million (about N56.7 billion) from export of agricultural produce in 2009.
The report was contained in the ministry's export statistics made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos. The statistics showed that the export was 15 per cent higher than $341.8 million (about N51.2 billion) recorded in 2008.
The report noted that the nation's total exported commodities increased from 271 million tonnes recorded in 2008 to 282.4 million tonnes in 2009.
The report listed some of the produce exported during the period under review to include cocoa beans, cocoa butter, cocoa cake, ginger, sesame seeds and cashew nuts.
Others were sheanuts, cotton lint, palm kernel cake, shea butter, cashew kernel, rubber, chilies, hibiscus flower, among others.
The statistics also showed that some produce such as cocoa beans export had increased from 159,189 tonnes in 2008 to 201,643.5 tonnes in 2009. Palm kernels, according to the statistics also increased from 1,693 tonnes the previous year to 4, 860 tonnes in 2009.
NAN reports that other products such as cocoa butter, cocoa cake, cocoa powder, sesame seeds, cashew nut, sheanuts, shea butter and ginger, however, recorded appreciable drop.
Mr. John Adetola, head of Federal Produce Inspection Department, expressed delight over the increase in the export of some of the produce. He expressed worries over some produce such as cocoa butter, cocoa cake, cotton that nosedived in 2009.
He ascribed the impressive record to the department, which crackdown on smugglers who engage in shady means of exporting produce.
"We have major registered ware houses and anyone that stocks commodity illegally and transport directly to the various ports for shipment was discouraged," he said.
The Cocoa Processor Association of Nigeria, (COPAN) said that the semi-processed commodity dropped because of high cost of diesel and inconsistency in payment of Export Promotion Grant (EPG).
The Executive Secretary of the association, Mr. Felix Olajide noted that EPG was put in place to cushion the harsh impact of doing business in Nigeria.
Mr. Tunji Owoeye, the president of National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), blamed low yield of cashew nuts on aged cashew trees. He urged the government to encourage cashew tree regeneration and motivate the general public to return to the farm to boost export trade.
Mr. Effiong Bassey, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria opined that the government did not get it right for lifting ban on the importation palm oil.
According to him, it is disheartening that Nigeria is not benefiting from the lucrative palm oil business at the international market.
"Government should be committed to the sector in terms of funding and initiate policies that would make the sector thrive. The government should also under-study Maylasia, which is the leading palm oil producer in the world and replicate it in Nigeria," he said.
Source:© Copyright Guardian Online
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