Post by Trade facilitator on Apr 16, 2021 20:23:07 GMT 1
Reason Why Nigerian Red Beans Had Been Banned From Entering European Markets
The Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, has revealed that the country had lost huge opportunities in its agricultural export drive due to lack of extension workers to educate and guide farmers in their farming activities for exports.
He said that over the past four years, the country had been banned from exporting its red beans into the European market. The reason is that our beans have unacceptable level of chemical content in the crop, which they consider high for human consumption.
He made the revelation at the opening of a workshop for the training of extension services agents in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The Minister argued that the problem could not have arisen if there were extension workers to guide the farmers.
The Minister also stated that our local crops like, Sesame seeds, hibiscus, soya beans, and cassava including several others; cannot make meaningful export impact until extension services becomes a priority by the government and private sector participants.
He stated that all successes achieved over the past years were due to the availability of farm extension workers who were guiding the farmers on how to plant, apply fertilizer, weed, and as well as time to harvest.
This important aspect of agriculture has been neglected over the years; some states in the country do not have any extension staff in their agriculture ministry.
In a census of extension workers carried out about three years ago by the government, it was discovered that the country had only about 16, 000 extension workers.
The Minister complained that this abnormality had serious consequences on the agricultural sector and therefore on the economic growth of the country.
He revealed that the government had embarked on a programme to increase its agricultural extension workers in the country to about 75, 000 in the next three years.
He also disclosed that even our smaller neighbors are ahead of us in this regard. Even in post-harvest activities, the country has been losing a lot. The country must modernize agriculture by having well trained extension workers.
The minister said that the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari has stated on several occasions that they are giving priority to food security; mechanizing agriculture is the only way to achieve that.
The Minister revealed that the country has l very low level of tractors in the country; which he put at about 7 tractors to 100 square kilometers. The standard is 127 tractors to 100 square kilometers.
Kenya is the most mechanized country in Africa with 27 tractors per 100 square kilometers. For the country to catch up with Kenya; the country needs to acquire 60,000 additional tractors.
He argued that, if the country is going to create a strong synergy between agriculture and the industrial sector; and to play a strong role in the export of agricultural commodities; mechanization is the only way to achieve that.
To achieve all these and to play our role in the economic sector of the country, the country needs well trained extension workers capable of delivering results.
He said that government will continue to push towards achieving the 75,000 target of extension workers in the country over the next three years.
He said that there about 45,000 government and private sector extension workers in the country now.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also encouraged the youth to embrace agriculture; because agriculture is becoming more profitable and attractive.
He also encouraged the extension workers not to be only extension workers, but also to be farmers themselves as farming is more lucrative now.
The youth in the country make up to 70% of the population; and you can imagine what their impact will be on the agricultural sector and the economy in general.
The Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, has revealed that the country had lost huge opportunities in its agricultural export drive due to lack of extension workers to educate and guide farmers in their farming activities for exports.
He said that over the past four years, the country had been banned from exporting its red beans into the European market. The reason is that our beans have unacceptable level of chemical content in the crop, which they consider high for human consumption.
He made the revelation at the opening of a workshop for the training of extension services agents in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The Minister argued that the problem could not have arisen if there were extension workers to guide the farmers.
The Minister also stated that our local crops like, Sesame seeds, hibiscus, soya beans, and cassava including several others; cannot make meaningful export impact until extension services becomes a priority by the government and private sector participants.
He stated that all successes achieved over the past years were due to the availability of farm extension workers who were guiding the farmers on how to plant, apply fertilizer, weed, and as well as time to harvest.
This important aspect of agriculture has been neglected over the years; some states in the country do not have any extension staff in their agriculture ministry.
In a census of extension workers carried out about three years ago by the government, it was discovered that the country had only about 16, 000 extension workers.
The Minister complained that this abnormality had serious consequences on the agricultural sector and therefore on the economic growth of the country.
He revealed that the government had embarked on a programme to increase its agricultural extension workers in the country to about 75, 000 in the next three years.
He also disclosed that even our smaller neighbors are ahead of us in this regard. Even in post-harvest activities, the country has been losing a lot. The country must modernize agriculture by having well trained extension workers.
The minister said that the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari has stated on several occasions that they are giving priority to food security; mechanizing agriculture is the only way to achieve that.
The Minister revealed that the country has l very low level of tractors in the country; which he put at about 7 tractors to 100 square kilometers. The standard is 127 tractors to 100 square kilometers.
Kenya is the most mechanized country in Africa with 27 tractors per 100 square kilometers. For the country to catch up with Kenya; the country needs to acquire 60,000 additional tractors.
He argued that, if the country is going to create a strong synergy between agriculture and the industrial sector; and to play a strong role in the export of agricultural commodities; mechanization is the only way to achieve that.
To achieve all these and to play our role in the economic sector of the country, the country needs well trained extension workers capable of delivering results.
He said that government will continue to push towards achieving the 75,000 target of extension workers in the country over the next three years.
He said that there about 45,000 government and private sector extension workers in the country now.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development also encouraged the youth to embrace agriculture; because agriculture is becoming more profitable and attractive.
He also encouraged the extension workers not to be only extension workers, but also to be farmers themselves as farming is more lucrative now.
The youth in the country make up to 70% of the population; and you can imagine what their impact will be on the agricultural sector and the economy in general.
