‘Grow Some Yam’, Nigerian Minister Advises Critics Of Export Policy

[caption id="attachment_21990" align="alignnone" width="750"]Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development[/caption]

Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has called on critics condemning the Federal Government yam export policy to grow the commodity.

Mr Ogbeh made this call on Monday while addressing journalists in Abuja.

According to him, the energies being dissipated by critics in condemning the initiative could be better used to produce yam, a staple in most parts of the country.

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The minister also addressed the fears of some Nigerians who believed that the policy would lead to shortage of yam in the country.

I have seen attacks on the social media. There are questions all over as to why we are exporting yam when Nigerians are said to be hungry.

“With all due respect, Nigeria accounts for 61 per cent of the world output of yam. We have 60 varieties of yam in this country.

“In fact, 30 per cent of the yams we produce get rotten because we don’t have facilities to preserve them.

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“Ghana is a famous country for exportation of the commodity, but most of the yam they export is from us.

“There has never been shortage of yam in the country. Prices might be high toward the end of the season, but new yam is already in the market.

“Why are you so cowardly? Why lay back by not trying anything because of some sentimental reasons that might be raised,’’ the minister asked.

Critics of the policy believe that investment in local processing of yams into finished products is of more economic benefit to the country than exporting the commodity.

But the minister dismissed this suggestion, arguing that export made more economic sense than processing.

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“Analysts are saying that we are supposed to add more value to yam production in order to earn more money, fantastic view.

“But they forget to tell us how much a tuber of yam costs in the USA. Three kilogrammes cost 15 dollars, which is equivalent to about N5, 000.

“In London, a cartoon of yam, this contains three tubers, costs 30 pounds, bringing the average cost per tuber to 10 pounds.

“At that price, it is more sensible to export to earn more money for our economy.

“Economy is 90 per cent common sense. You can’t keep on buying until you are broke. What are you selling?” he asked.

To further buttress his point, the minister said foreign trade partners came to complain when Nigeria limited its food imports.

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