FG, stakeholders move to reposition yam as export crop

The Federal Government has called on stakeholders to come up with strategies that will reposition Nigeria as a major player in yam export.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, made the call in Abuja, on Thursday, at a stakeholders’ workshop on Repositioning Yam as an Export Crop.

Umakhihe described the workshop as very timely, as Nigeria is diversifying its economy towards non-oil export commodities.

The workshop, which seeks to address the crucial issues regarding the export of yams for increase in foreign earnings and wealth creation, was themed: “Prospects and Challenges of Yam Export in Nigeria.”

Umakhihe, represented by the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Abdullahi Abubakar, said the aim of the meeting was to reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians on the export of yam for national wealth creation, increased income for farmers and job creation.

“We must take deliberate action to take yam production, processing and marketing to the next level in line with international best practices.

“There is the need to critically examine the factors militating against quality production and export of our major commodities of which yam is one of them.

“Nigeria is the leading producer of fresh yams, yet it is unfortunate to note that despite the huge production, Nigeria is nowhere in the map of countries that export yams,” Umakhihe said.

There is the need to critically examine the factors militating against quality production and export of our major commodities of which yam is one of them.

He said in 2020, Nigeria contributed 67% while Ghana contributed 10% to global output.

“However, Ghana remains the second highest world exporter of yam for over 10 years and the highest in West Africa with 94% annual export contribution.

“Ghana’s income earned from export of yam has grown from $18.48 million in 2015 to $39.7 million in 2021.

“If Ghana that produces only 10% of global production can earn as much, Nigeria can earn six times more than Ghana based on her production capacity,” Umakhihe said.

In a goodwill message, National President, National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers, Prof. Simon Irtwange, said that yam is a food security crop, which has enormous potential as a foreign exchange earner.

“If we are going to upscale production and produce quality yams that we can export, then we need to look at our production.

“Can we change from heaps to the ridges? In which case, we can bring in mechanisation and we will be able to produce yam in the size and shape required for export. It is not every yam tuber that is exportable,” he said.

In a presentation, Yam Seed System Specialist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Abuja, Dr Beatrice Aighewi, identified poor quality inputs as a major challenge as well as inadequate rural infrastructure to facilitate the transportation of yam.

“Yam is bulky and perishable hence, high level of losses,” she said, adding that high cost and low supply of quality yam are major constraints in yam production.

She called on the government to support the yam value chain with financial assistance for the yam market. (NAN)