The much talked about yam export as another means of foreign exchange earner may have run into a hitch as the Federal Government of Nigeria has only recorded four exports since the programme was flagged off in 2017.
Consequently, it is doubtful if the federal government is still banking on yam export as major foreign exchange earner as this year’s budget even indicates.
Minister of agriculture and rural development, Audu Ogbeh had last year made so much noise about yam export with the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government boasting with it as a major breakthrough.
But Armadanews.com learnt that it is not yet uhuru for Nigeria and her yam export programme as only four exports have been recorded since last year of kick off.
Indications from the Nigeria Customs Service show that Federal Government did not march the intended yam export with the desired campaign and packaging that would have made it a big success.
The Customs believes that effective campaign and packaging would have enhanced the foreign exchange earnings of the government from yam.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) Tin Can 2 Command, Comptroller Dalhat Mahmud said that the lull in export of Nigerian commodities was due to lack of awareness on packaging.
Dalhat added that inability to get the right market at the right time and place for the exported yams is also responsible for the drop in the commodity as regards export.
He stressed that only four exports of yam was processed since Ogbeh flagged off the exportation of yams at the command in 2017.
His words: “Again, we need to do a lot of campaigns to sensitise people to make sure they know the importance of the business and it will help government in terms of foreign exchange earnings
“So far so good, export has been going on smoothly but I think the problem has been packaging.
“Yes for quite sometime, they have not been coming and nobody knows exactly what transpires but an sure it is the way we package it and then getting the right market at the right time and place.”
Armadanews.com recalls that when the programme started afresh, the manner of its packaging was a major issue and it is not certain if that challenge was treated with the attention it deserves given the huge outrage.