The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has trained and empowered 210 smallholder farmers on the production of high-quality agricultural commodities for export markets.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry, Dr Ishaya Dabari, disclosed this on Saturday during the training held in Mubi.
Dabari said the initiative was aimed at empowering farmers to participate in export activities and stimulate economic growth in the state.
He explained that the training was being conducted simultaneously across the three senatorial zones of Adamawa.
“In partnership with NEPC, we developed a strategy that enables people to obtain export certificates at no cost. This applies to 150 small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate the export of local products without challenges.
“Understanding the financial capacity of our people, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri approved the payment of the processing fees for 150 export certificates, which have been distributed,” he said.
He listed the targeted commodities to include sesame, groundnut, hibiscus, soybeans, ginger and processed food products.
Also speaking, the NEPC North-East Regional Coordinator, Mr Anani Egon, said the project was designed to stimulate sustainable growth in the agri-food export sector by strengthening the capacity of farmers, processors and potential exporters.
According to him, the initiative falls under the broader framework of the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), a World Bank-assisted programme aimed at promoting economic diversification through the non-oil export sector.
He urged beneficiaries to apply the skills acquired to improve productivity and position Adamawa as a reliable source of high-quality agro commodities for export.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mrs Saso Benson-Ali, commended Gov. Fintiri for supporting the initiative and encouraged beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunity.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Abubakar Mayo, expressed appreciation to the state government and NEPC, saying the training and empowerment would enable participants to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the state and the country.
Mayo said the farming inputs received, including herbicides, knapsack sprayers, boots and other tools, would significantly boost his agricultural production.
