Proper Packaging, Branding Of Agric Products Will Attract More Foreign Investment, Says Industrialist

farmers

An industrialist, Mr Wale Oyekoya, said on Thursday that proper packaging and branding of agricultural products by farmers would attract more foreign investment to the country.

Oyekoya was speaking against the backdrop of the ban placed on some Nigerian agric products by the European Union owing to the high concentration of chemicals used by farmers to preserve the products.

He told the Food Farm News (FFN) in Lagos that proper packaging and branding of agric products would strengthen the agricultural value chain approach to developing the sector and encouraging export.

“They always say that `charity begins at home’.

“If we are able to package our products properly and we are able to brand it well, definitely the international people coming into the trade fair will say this is well packaged.

“They will take it back home and say `we can order from Nigeria for this product’.

“Now that our foreign reserve is being depleted, that is why naira is being devalued all the time.

“But once the economy picks up and once we are able to add value to our farm produce, we will be able to shoot the naira up.“

Oyekoya, who is the Chairman, Agriculture Sector, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, commended the organisers of the 26th Enugu International Trade Fair and the 36th Kaduna International Trade Fair, which held in April and May respectively.

He expressed optimism that the 10th Abuja International Trade Fair, scheduled to hold in September, would be a success.

He, however, advised the organisers of the trade fairs not to make them zonal events.