Food producers demand conducive environment for int’l trade
NAN-H-59
Producers
By Olawunmi Ashafa/Omowumi Alake
Lagos, Feb. 7, 2017 (NAN) Some exhibitors at the 1st Nigeria Food Safety and Investment Forum have urged the Federal Government to provide conducive environment for small and medium enterprises to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
The exhibitors made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
They noted that paucity of funds and the harsh economic climate remained major challenges impeding businesses in the country.
The SME operators said that if government could tackle the challenges, they would be able perform and compete with their foreign counterparts at the international market.
Mrs Oladunni Moromoke, the Managing Director, Kisfund Nigeria Ltd., said that her company recorded low sales in 2016 from her paint business as a result of economic recession.
“As a result of the low sales in painting business, I ventured into organic produce business because of its high demand.
“I normally get a lot of demand outside the country, particularly from the UK,” she said. Moromoke said her presence at the forum would help her meet other operators who could facilitate participation at international markets.
“Governments are trying in ensuring that SMEs drive the economy but they still need to do more.
“They should ensure that availability to funds is easier than how it is at the moment,’’ she urged.
Mr Kodavatiganti Padmakar, the Business Director, Zaika Food Ltd., said that the forum would encourage manufacturers to develop the Nigeria recipes in food production and processing to meet international specification.
Padmakar said that would slowly eliminate the importation of recipes and other food ingredients being used for manufacturing.
“We are not in favour of importation because we must be able to do customise solutions in Nigeria by developing the local recipes because we have everything here.
“We manufacture food produce for easy culinary products, which are extracted from natural ingredients in Nigeria.
“And we have the highest supplies of enzymes for milling and baking industries in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Another exhibitor, Mr Stephen Ahiaba, the Chief Executive Officer of St. Ahiaba Global Resources Ltd., said that their participation was to create an opportunity to partner with exporters in order to enhance cashew production.
“We are here to get opportunity to take advantage of the international market, which we believe will eliminate the issues of intermediary between Nigeria farmers and exporting countries.
“We have a large production of cashew in Nigeria, especially in Kogi state, which is the largest cashew producing state.
“We produced about 600,000 metric tonnes last year, and about 30 to 40 metric tonnes per day,” he said.
Ms Ogbu Chinyere, a plant tissue culture expert, said that they came to showcase new innovations in agricultural practices to increase produce and ensure food security.
“The forum will expose farmers to current innovations that are very easy and exempt the use of seedlings for faster yield.
“The process is known as the max multiply plants system of farming, it is a process where we breed and provide as much plants that can cover a farmland to farmers,’’ she said.
NAN also reports that about 45 organisations were exhibiting their products and services at the forum, which will end on Feb. 8.
They include those in farming, food processing, agricultural produce, exporting and packaging, among others. (NAN) AWA/AOI/ENN/MST
Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola