There is
indication that the African Groundnut Council (AGC) established in 1975 at
Lagos and domiciled at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment
with its headquarter for all others African members may be moved to agriculture
and rural development ministry according to a source.
A source
told us that AGC was established with aim the of enhancing standard and quality
seeds production for the cultivation of groundnut in Africa among the member
countries as Nigeria has recently moved its headquarters from Lagos to Kano for
obvious ecological reason of where the crop is mostly grown adding in the spirit
of right appropriation the ministry of Trade and Investment is already making
arrangement towards moving the council to be domiciled in the Federal Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Presently
the Executive Director of AGC is from Senegal and the position is always
rotated in seven years among the member countries of Africa and this
association according to our source said its impact is very evident in the 60s
Nigerian groundnut pyramid.
Food Farm News learnt that the immediate past
minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga had queried the domiciliation
of AGC in the present place thereby ordered for the a proposal to the
relocation of this African association to the appropriate ministry based on its
research related nature which his ministry did not have the mandate to handle.
Meanwhile
the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has officially launched
and presented certification of registration to National Groundnut Producers,
Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NABPAN) and two others “Federation
of Beekeepers Association of Nigeria (FEBKAN) and National Banana and Plantain
Growers, Processor and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NGROPPMAN)
The
outgoing Permanent Secretary, FMITI Ambassador A. Musa ably represented at the
certificates presentation urged the three associations to comply with standard that will ensure market acceptability of these
produce locally and internationally adding that about 16 commodities
association are already inaugurated to make nineteen stressed government
continued readiness to provide friendly environment for national productions.
Meanwhile
the Raw Material Research Development Council (RMRDC) has expressed its
readiness to assist any agricultural produce that can give different derivatives
as agro raw materials for both local and export adding that the Bee and Honey
Association unlike many other would soon begin to enjoy intervention support of
the council based on its high demand in the world market.
The
Executive Director of the RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Ibrahim ably represented said the
council activities in the agricultural intervention is very evident in shea
butter, cashew, castor , mellon, and many others adding that bee and honey would
soon receive special intervention attention because its high demand in the
world market.
Dr.
Ibrahim stated that “our interest in area of bee keeping and honey makes this
occasion well commendable as we are going to expedite action on any crops that
can give several derivates. Bee keeping is worldwide trade. RMRDC will soon
invite to launch African Education platform in Nigeria for bee keeping
association to enable our products go to Europe”
No comments:
Post a Comment