CEM REPORT | To understand and solve the problem of rejection of Nigeria’s agricultural products the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has inaugurated a committee to identify the major causes of the rejection.
The committee, whose members were drawn from the ministry and some parastatals of the ministry and Ministry of Agriculture, is headed by the Director, Commodities and Export Department, Suleiman Audu.
The committee’s terms of reference include, identifying the major causes for export rejection of Nigerian’s agricultural commodities; determining the roles played by exporters or institutional infractions that tend to promote export rejection of Nigerian agricultural commodities, suggesting measures necessary to strengthen the capacity of exporters to improve the quality, standard, certification, and packaging.
Also it will be expected to develop the policy framework for Global Gap certification and quality packaging that is environmentally friendly for global trade; suggest ways of getting government at all levels to support farmers to key into Global Gap certification for increased productivity and export; suggest appropriate model/partnership for development of standard storage facilities for products before arriving at their final destinations among others, Guardian exports.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, at the inauguration, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Ifedayo Sayo, said the international market is competitive and welcomes products of high quality with relevant certifications and quality packaging that is environmentally friendly.
He however explained that the problem of quality, standard, certification and appropriate packaging for made-in-Nigeria products for export has been a recurring issue hence the need to set up the technical committee to address the issue and proffer appropriate recommendations.
The Minister stated that Nigeria’s agricultural products have been facing export rejection by most countries of Asia, Europe and America in recent times.
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He further explained that it has left huge financial losses, affected on creation and negatively impacting the supply value chain.
He added that the Federal Government placed a lot of emphasis on the promotion of non-oil commodity exports, which has led to farmers and product aggregators partnering to explore the export market for their products.
The Minister told the committee that the nation was expectant of the outcome of the assignment handed them as an antidote to the rejection being suffered by Nigerian exporters at the international market.
He gave the committee six weeks within which to submit its report.
