Nigeria Records Huge
Revenue From Yam Export
Nigeria
has realised over N70 billion from the export of yams in
2009.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC said that the export
value was higher than the N56 billion recorded in 2008.
Mrs. Osibo Omowunmi, General Manager, NEPC said the increase was
achieved through the vigorous sensitisation initiative of the
council to citizens on the economic benefits derivable from the
export of yams and other non-oil products.
Nigeria currently produces about 38.7 million tonnes,
making her the largest world producer of yam, followed by Ivory
Coast, Ghana and Benin Republic.
Global yam production stands at over 51.4 million tonnes.
Ghana produced 3.6 million, while Ivory Coast produced
4.8 million tonnes.
Putting in more effort
The council said the Nigerian government is striving to ensure
that Nigerian yams occupied a crucial position in the
international market.
She said that the council had sensitised the farmers and
exporters to the procedures in selecting, propagating and
processing yams to meet international standards.
She said that one of the goals of the NEPC was to reduce the
quantity of yam tubers being wasted for seeds, while increasing
production.
It is to be recalled that the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo state, has developed
a new technique of propagating yam through vine cuttings with
carbonised rice husks as the growth medium.
IITA also recently obtained huge funds for yam research to boost
its production.
NAN/Yinka
