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Farmers in Nigeria have been described as not having enough
information about the standard requirement of agricultural produce to the point
of giving maximum premium price both locally and international. 
Ogbeh , who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in
the ministry, Dr. Mohammed Umar said that adequate knowledge of regulations and
standards was key to reducing the incidence of rejection of the country’s
produce at the international market, noting that it was important to checkmate
losses as farmers are adequately informed about best agricultural practices
that will give premium price.
He added that addressing the issue of rejection through
quality control and standardisation would ensure best practices in the food
handling chains, and linking stakeholders and farmers together towards quality
consumption pointing that “a major emphasis has been on stimulating the export
of these produce toward increasing our foreign exchange earnings”
He continued:“In doing this, we are giving attention to
meeting the taste and preferences of not only the local but also international
consumers in our production choices which include government regulations and
policies that are well informed, beneficial and backed with relevant research
being put in place to execute the mandate professionally,”.
The Executive Director/ Chief Executive ARMTI, Dr. Olufemi
Oladunni said that the summit was to address farmers’ challenges in the area of
agricultural productivity and ensuring standard processes that would increase wealth
and income generations adding that export opportunities were huge and
accessible to all categories of stakeholders including small-scale and big
farmers who acquitted with best practices.
Dr. Oladunni promised that the summit would be taken round
the six geopolitical zones as soon as all the necessary framework are put in
place for the benefit of farmers towards unstoppable agro exportation adding
that each state and local government replicate the model to effectively
position themselves for better food productivity.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on
Agriculture, Mr. Oludapo Bright also admonished farmers to be self determined
to sustain agro based agriculture without much reliance on government stressed
that all agricultural produce must endeavour to meet best agronomics practices
of standard and acceptance adding that “ there is need to be more competitive
and also key into research, so that the way we package our product will be more
attractive for the consumers in the global market.”
He advised farmers to research properly before going into
exportation and to also learn to team up with other farmers in the area of
marketing so that the issue of postharvest losses which was about 60% is duly
curbed in the country.
Also, the commodity certification officer in the Nigeria
Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Dr Solomon Sunday however appealed to
intended exporters to seek guidelines before export saying the step would help
to checkmate rejection of the country’s agricultural commodities with emphasis
that farmers must get things right.
Participants called for farmers’ inclusion in decision-making
in issues that concern them like strengthening of the research system; and need
to set up a fund for exportation.
They further pointed that the government needs to identify
the key stakeholders in the sector so that the necessary information’s can be
well disseminated to the grassroots farmers to be able to curb the challenges
faced by the farmers.
In a statement issued at the end of the three days meeting
it was stated that agricultural produce exporters are faced with the challenges
of poor/weak infrastructure, inadequate extension delivery services, inadequate
access to input, limited access to financial assistance, etc.
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