Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh has disclosed that Nigeria would export its first consignment of certified yams to the United Kingdom and United States by the end of June.
He stated this in a statement on Friday by Olukayode Oyeleye of the Media and Communication department in the ministry.
Ogbeh said that the Federal Government was committed to restoring Nigeria’s place in agro-commodities export market, which had been lost for decades as a result of poor quality control.
‘‘This exportation will mark a milestone in the efforts we are making to bring Nigeria back into reckoning in the agricultural export market.
‘‘We lost this, decades ago, as a result of poor quality control and subsequent rejection of our agricultural exports.
‘‘Among a number of initiatives to fast-track these interventions and solidify our base, the Federal Government has empowered the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS), to make it more responsive to issues of safety and phytosanitary standards in food exports.
‘‘The NAQS reports will become acceptable globally and this will forestall the national embarrassment arising from the rejections of food exports on account of quality deficiency,’’ he said.
He however said the Federal Government had also established a standing inter-ministerial technical committee on zero-reject of agricultural commodities/produce and non-oil exports in Nigeria.