Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has organized a one-day training for Farmers, Merchants, Warehouse Managers, Processors, And Exporters of Beans And Other Grains On Safe Preservative Measures as part of efforts towards restoring Nigeria’s lost grains export status.

 

The training held in Awka, attracted farmers and Dealers of Beans and other grains from across the state who were exposed to healthy preservative measures for the commodities.

 

Correspondent, Emmanuel Okonkwo reports  Nigeria was recently banned from exporting dry beans by the European Union due to high level of pesticide residue which is attributed to application of pesticides like snipper by merchants and warehouse managers.

 

In his address, during the fearing, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo who spoke through the South East Regional Coordinator of the council, Mr. Arnold Jackson, explained that the United Nations Industrial Organization, UNIDO, under the National Quality Infrastructural Project, NQIP, in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and other relevant stakeholders developed the concept of conduit of excellence, COE, which seeks to improve the quality, safety, integrity, standard and marketability of Nigeria agricultural commodities for regional and international markets.

 

On his part, the Assistant Director, NEPC, Abuja Office, Mr. Afolabi Bello, reminded the participants that international business deals with quality, which he said makes it imperative for the farmers and exporters to stick to quality production for their products to be allowed into international markets.

 

On her part, the Head, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Awka Smart Office, Lady Jane Ohiri who regretted that Nigeria is banned from exporting dry beans, asked relevant stakeholders in beans value chain to sit-up, and achieve the NEPC target of restoring the country’s export status before December this year.

 

In a presentation on “appropriate handling practices of dried beans for export and food safety “, the Executive Director Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, Dr. Patricia Pessu, who was represented by Chief Research Officer of the Institute, Lady Grace Otitodun, made the participants to understand how deadly the use of sniper and other harmful elements are in preservation of food, pointed out that good agricultural practices help in promotion of food safety and wealth creation.

 

In their various speeches, the Anambra state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Nnamdi Onukwuba represented by the Director Technical Service in the Ministry, Mr. Emeka Okoli, and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Export, Dr.  Okey Okwuosa, urged the participants to put knowledge garnered during the training into practice, and encouraged beans farmers to produce the commodity organically to make it safe for consumption and export.

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