• As NSPRI, export promotion council, others train stakeholders
Some agencies and institutes of the Federal Government in food research and development have moved to stem rejections of exports of food and industrial crops of Nigerian origin by training farmers, aggregators and exporters in the best agricultural practices during planting, farm maintenance, harvest and post-harvest periods.
The stakeholders were trained according to CODEX Alimetarius Commission and other international standards in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt in cocoa, cassava, yam, leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, tomatoes and palm oil, among others, with much emphasis on planting, storage and preservation good practices.
Facilitators harped on advantages of penetrating international markets such as earnings in forex, balance of trade and employment opportunities for value chain actors, deepening of crop production as demand increases both at home and globally.