Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger, has sought for the support of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) towards increasing farmers productivity in the state.
The governor, who was received by the Executive Director of the Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo in Abuja on Wednesday, said the state desired to partner with the council in various aspect, especially in agriculture to help boost farmers productivity.
He enumerated some of the areas to include provision of improved seedlings, equipment and other agro-allied inputs to the farmers, suggesting that an institutional framework should be designed where the state government takes control, purchases the farmers produce through the establishment of a ‘one-stock-shop’.
Sani-Bello explained that the one-stock-shop, if established, would lead to job creation, increased revenue to the government as well as enhance the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
He also solicited NEPC’s intervention in the establishment of domestic warehouses, fishery development, shea butter development, sesame seed cultivation and other cash crops as well as capacity building for farmers.
According to him, to achieve the objectives, there is the need to set up a sustainable joint system to work with and to ensure it functions effectively and efficiently.
“We have to set-up a robust administrative system to ensure that there is no abuse, no misuse and ensure accountability because that also can be a problem”, he said.
The governor maintained that agriculture will play a crucial role in the ‘zero-effort’ economy, which the federal government intends to achieve.
Mr Awolowo commended the state for establishing Export Commodity Agency, adding that the organization has already considered partnering the state, especially in the area of shea butter as it is blessed with abundance of shea trees.
He said the governor’s visit has further confirmed the commitment of the state government in partnering with NEPC, having understood the mutual benefits the partnership will yield, particularly now that the presidency had fully supported the NEPC, especially towards achieving the zero-oil economy in the country.
