The National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors, and Marketers have begged the federal Government to sign trade agreements with European Union (EU) to secure duty-free yam export to Europe.
The association in line with the Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, made this known in a communique by Nigeria Yam Stakeholders who went for a Study Tour in Ghana.
According to the communique, which was signed by Prof. Simon Irtwange, the association’s President and National Coordinator, Nigeria Technical Committee on Yam Export Programme. It stated that Ghana has signed relevant trade agreements with EU which makes it possible for Ghana’s yam exporters to export to Europe and United Kingdom duty-free.
The tour is to enable Nigeria have a good knowledge of standards, structures and systems put in place by Ghana that led to its success story in yam production, storage, processing, packaging and export. This is to enhance the development and growth of the Nigeria yam commodity sub-sector to ensure that yam becomes a major export commodity and contributes substantially to foreign earning of the government.
The trade agreements required for duty free yam export to Europe are, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and provisional application of the European Union Free Trade Agreement (EUFTA).
The communique also stated that the yam exporters needed assistance in one-off production of cartons/ boxes and purchase of two cold trucks to support transportation and export logistics. It said there should also be pre-export incentives for yam exporters to secure a warehouse to serve as National Yam Export Pack House.
