The exporters of yam to the United Kingdom and the United States of America have blamed the Nigerian Ports Authority for the delay witnessed in clearing exported yams.
The Managing Director, ADES UK Foods, Mr. Michael Adedipe, explained that the spoilage of yam, which affected about six per cent of the produce, was one of the expected risks of the business.
He said, “The failure has nothing to do with the Ministry of Agriculture, but the Nigerian Ports Authority, which failed to fast-track the processing of our goods. That is where I see the failure. I have vowed not to stop yam export business.
“The other mistake was the shipping line we used. But they were the ones that were available. In spite of this unpleasant experience, I am willing to invest more and, at least, take a container of export from Nigeria every week.”
The concerned and other prospective exporters have also expressed worries about the potential impact of the negative publicity on their prospects at the export market, in the wake of the Federal Government’s initiative on diversification of the economy through agricultural produce export.
The Managing Director, Wan Nyikwagh Farms Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yandev Amaabai, has strongly disputed the yam rejection speculations, insisting that his consignments were successfully cleared at the ports.
He said, “Although, some cases of tuber spoilage were reported in both cases, which were caused by delay at the port, these were separated from the good ones, and the good ones were distributed to the buyers. Ghana, which has been exporting yams for a while, routinely records cases of spoilage, without making any public issues therefrom; and their yams don’t get rejected as a result.
“My goods actually got to the US on September 7, 2017. The ship berthed on September 2, 2017, but, because of the flooding in Texas, we couldn’t discharge until the 7th. They were cleared from the Customs and brought to the warehouse on the 7th. Yams are perishable items and, definitely, some may go bad on the way. But this statement that says the American government rejected Nigerian yams is not true.”
A statement by the Ministry of Agriculture said, “Ghana is the first country in West Africa to launch its national yam development strategy in 2013. The country aims at $5billion of exports by 2018. Nigeria, which produces seven times Ghana’s production volume is beset with criticisms over attempts to bring it to the global yam markets.
“About 90 per cent of Ghana’s yams are exported to the US, Canada, UK and elsewhere in Europe. There are more Nigerians than Ghanaians in these countries, meaning more prospects for the Nigerian exporters.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, added, “We will emphasise global best practices, engage with world-class experts and international organisations as well as leverage the strength in indigenous knowledge.
“We will support investment in relevant infrastructure and facilities. We will revive the abandoned yam conditioning centres in Ekiti and Nasarawa states while we encourage the construction of new ones with appropriate equipment to boost storage and export prospects. We appeal to Nigerians, in the spirit of patriotism, to see the silver lining around the cloud and ignore the misinformation about yam export.
“We have commenced engagement with the National Assembly for the repeal of the 1989 law that prohibits export of yams and other agro-commodities. Currently, the bill has passed the second reading at the National Assembly. The continued existence of this law is an obstruction against the economic diversification and export initiative of this administration.
We plead with the National Assembly to fast-track the repeal of the law and help us further unlock our export potential.”
