According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the value of the country’s agricultural export increased by N14.6 billion or 24 per cent from N56.1 billion in q1 20117 to N73.7 billion in q1 2018 on a year on year basis.

On a quarter on quarter basis, the value of Nigeria’s agric export increased by N29 billion or 63.8 percent from N44.7 billion in q4 2017 to N73.7 billion in q1 2018.
The sector accounted for 1.6 percent of Nigeria’s total export for the one-year period.

According to the NBS data, Sesame seeds led the list of agricultural commodities exported for the period, followed by cocoa and cashew nuts. The foreign trade report shows that sesame seeds worth N26.6 billion in q1 2018 from N13.03 billion in q1 2017, representing 105 percent year-on-year increase.

Stakeholders say the export numbers are an indication that the sesame seed production has the capacity to grow and earn the country huge foreign exchange and create hundreds of jobs in the country as long as the government draws a master plan for the sub-sector, as it has done in rice.

Nigeria’s sesame production is put at 200,000 metric tonnes with an average of 0.8 metric tonnes per hectare, according to data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

Sesame seed is Nigeria’s biggest agricultural produce exported to Japan. It is considered as one of the world’s oldest oilseed crop that has the highest oil content than any other seed.

The oil extracted from the seed is used in making vegetable oil and for medicinal purposes for treatment of ulcers and burnt. The stem as well as the oil is used by cosmetic industry in the production of soaps and other beauty products.

Source: Business Day

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Photo Credit: wikipedia.org

Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and Afro-India Technology & Societal Transformation (AITST) Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the introduction of modern technologies and scientific methods along the cashew value chain.

GEPA, in collaboration with the private sector, is implementing a 10-Year Cashew Development Plan aimed at developing the cashew industry and supporting rural enterprise development in Ghana; as well as diversifying Ghana’s cash crop base from dependence on cocoa.

The MOU with AITST Foundation seeks to establish mutually beneficial or “win-win” collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders in the cashew industry in Ghana through technology and machinery support for the government’s ten years cashew development plan.

Gifty Klenam who is the Chief Executive Officer for GEPA said the agreement is in line with the commitment of the government’s quest to support smallholders’ farmers in the Agricultural value chain.

“The agreement, will, place farmers first in bringing modern technology, to enhance production and processing of cashew, for increased export and revenue for Ghana,” she said.

AITST Foundation is an initiative by the African and Indian leaders chaired by Mahesh Patel, Executive Chairman of ETG to ensure Sub-Saharan Africa emerges as a truly global food provider by 2030.

Its core objective is to bring modern and cutting-edge technology interventions, from smallholder farmers to governments of Sub-Saharan Africa at all stages of Agric-value chains.

GEPA and Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture are the official partners of our Agri Value Chain Development Conference,  Meet The Farmers Conference (MTFC) which will hold across four African Countries and in Dubai, UAE with the focus on The Future of Agribusiness.

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