The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called on soybean growers and processors to invest in the commodity’s value chain to remain competitive in the global market.
NEPC Northwest Regional Coordinator, Mrs Amina Abdulmalik, made the call on Thursday in Kano during a technical support workshop organised by the council for soybean growers and processors.
Abdulmalik said the workshop, themed “Importance and Benefits of Soybeans Value Chain,” was organised to encourage farmers, processors, and other stakeholders to explore opportunities in the soybean value chain.
“We are here to educate farmers and processors on how to move beyond producing raw soybeans to processing them into higher-value products for both domestic and international markets,” she said.
She noted that this would position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global market.
Abdulmalik emphasised that beyond household consumption, soybean has enormous economic potential as a key raw material for food, livestock feed, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing industries.
She added that adopting the value chain approach would strengthen production, processing, marketing, and exports, while creating more value for farmers and processors.
The coordinator observed that many growers in Kano produce soybeans in large quantities but are yet to take full advantage of the enormous opportunities in the value chain.
Describing soybeans as one of the country’s strategic export commodities, Abdulmalik reiterated the NEPC’s commitment to promoting non-oil exports as a strategy to diversify Nigeria’s economy.
She noted that about 100 countries use soybeans for various condiments and industrial purposes, arguing that investing in the crop’s value chain would generate more revenue for Nigeria than simply exporting raw beans.
“Let us work collectively to strengthen the soybean value chain, empower our farmers and processors, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global market,” she said.
“I want all participants to key into the value chain approach by learning how to process their soybeans into several other products. This will earn them more money,” Abdulmalik added.
