According to Ernest Umakihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigerians may soon resort to importing yams from China for local consumption.
He made this statement during a stakeholder’s workshop focused on revitalizing yam as an export crop. Umakihe expressed dismay that despite Nigeria’s contribution of 67% to the global yam output, the country is conspicuously absent from the list of yam exporting nations.
He voiced concerns that with China’s entry into the yam export market and considering Nigerians’ penchant for imported goods, Chinese yams may soon flood Nigerian kitchens if precautions are not taken. This, in turn, could exacerbate unemployment and diminish the income of local yam farmers.
Umakihe highlighted that Nigeria’s initial attempts at yam exportation, led by the Nasarawa State Government in 2009 with 8.5 metric tonnes, followed by two additional shipments totaling 66 metric tonnes in the same month, as well as efforts by Oyo State, were unsuccessful.
He also criticized the Ministry’s poorly managed attempt to revive yam exportation in 2017.
“It was only in 2017 that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture under the leadership of Chief Audu Ogbeh, then Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised the first flag-off ceremony (of yam) with a batch of 72 tons to UK and USA. I believe these were done without proper planning before the execution. Aside from the mentioned attempts, nothing much has been heard of the yam export from Nigeria,” he said.
Addressing the workshop’s theme, “Prospects and Challenges of Yam Export in Nigeria,” he emphasized that it is incumbent upon Nigerians to investigate what went awry and devise solutions.
