NEPC moves to reduce Nigeria’s $600m cassava derivatives import bill

By Dikachi Franklin, in Owerri.

• As JLN displays tractors, farm tools

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Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world  and the biggest economy in Africa by gross domestic product (GDP), as  well as the biggest  grower and producer of cassava, imports over $600 million cassava derivatives annually, clearly signalling the failure of policy and action to add value to its huge agricultural raw materials.

Felicia Agbahia, trade promotion advisor, Nigerian Export Promotion  Council (NEPC), Owerri Export Assistance Office, speaking at a one day sensitisation workshop on global best practices  in cassava value chain held  at the Benconn Hotels,  Owerri, noted that the sensitisation training workshop was apt at this critical  and prevailing economic condition Nigeria finds itself, a move that could strengthen understanding of the importance of cassava and how developing the value chain could help to reduce the import bills on its derivatives.

She stated that NEPC, the lead  federal government agency, is saddled with the responsibilities of developing as well as promoting Nigerian non oil exports.

In order to achieve its vision  and mission,  the  council would always  be a step ahead  in its programmes as well as its  initiatives aimed at the development of the non oil sector.

She also remarked that in view of the importance of cassava as food  and as industrial raw material,  the  federal government of Nigeria  had placed cassava development at the front burner  with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)  championing that in collaboration  with the International Institute of Tropical  Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan and the National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Umuahia.

Cassava, a tropical crop thrives well in Nigeria hence it has become the biggest cultivator and producer.

The training workshop, which  the Nigerian Export Promotion Council  did in collaboration with the National Roots Crops  Research  Institute, Agbahia also noted, was necessary in view of the  “dwindling oil revenue  and the need for the region to look inwards to proffer solution to the threat  of food insecurity  in the country,” adding that “the workshop  will no doubt help  our distinguished participants  in the best practices of production  of cassava  and its derivatives”.

Chima Ifekwe, director of operations, JLN Agric Implementation  Services Limited,  a division of JLN Farms, an affiliate of JLN Construction Services LLC USA, in a presentation spoke about the unique partnership with Weifang Winner Equipment  Manufacturing Co. Ltd China and  JLN where the Chinese firm  manufactures according to  the technical specifications and trademark of JLN Agric.

He noted that  all their product lines – hitch, hybrid, low maintenance,  energy/fuel efficiency tractors – are highly tropicalised to suit the African climate and  environment.

Ifekwe informed that,  “this  development is a game changer  with its multiplier effects not only on the agricultural sector-specific value chain development  but the entire economy  of the  African continent which will act as a major driver to the economic integration protocol of  ECOWAS and African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) of the African Union,  the  largest free trade area in the world;  and also  help in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of food  security  and agro-forestry that ensures ambient livelihood  and eradication of poverty “.

He showcased different types of tractors and other  farm tools.