Attacks On Farmers Reducing Productivity___NEPC #OsazuwaAkonedo

Paul Iduozee

Nigerian Export Promotion Council NEPC, has condemned the rate of killing of farmers by suspected herdsmen in the country.

MacPherson Fred-Ileogben, the Head /Trade Promotion Advisor, Benin Office of NEPC, made the condemnation while addressing some traders in Benin city recently.

According to MacPherson, a lot of farmers in Edo state are affected by the activities of criminals and thus that have led to low productivity in farm produces in the state and Nigeria at large.

” Within the limited funds we have, we will need to work to bring change to the agency.”

” The external challenges are farmers who produce in the farm. We have insecurity threats to our farmer. It affects the supply chains of market and the raw materials the farmers and Exporters need to process their farm produces.”

“The whole world has been affected by the Covid-19 crisis. We are now talking about Post Covid-19 era. What we are trying to do now is to develop the Pineapple Sector. Pineapple products are in high demand in the International Trade market. Ghana and Ivory Coast countries are investing in that sector. ”

“Nigeria is still struggling. I appeal to the federal government to encourage farmers by providing grow seeds for the farmers. Edo State is the largest producer of Pineapple in Nigeria. What we are doing since we identify the market is to organize capacity building training programme for farmers and exporters in Edo state.”

“We are working on the global gap. Global gap is a process which enhance the acceptability of food products in International markets . We are training the farmers on the growing of fruits and vegetables. We are working with the farmers to ensure more of the farmers are certified to do the business.”

“We want to train farmers on the effective production of Pineapple in export global markets. And to see how the governments can help farmers for the planting materials for Export pupose,” Fred-Ileogben said.