In a bid to provide quality seeds, the Nigerian government has partnered with Mpedigree to introduce a smart seed labeling and verification system, that can eliminate the prevalence of low-quality seeds in the country. Mpedigree is a global organization that protects against counterfeit products with the use of mobile and web technologies.

Mpedigree will help the Nigerian government to introduce a new electronic agro certification system, called “NASCODE”. This technology is based on Mpedigree’s Goldkeys platform which offers smart certification tags through a verification system. NASCODE is a smart seed labeling and verification system that will identify counterfeit seeds in the market.

See also: Agro Trade Between Africa & GCC: Ethiopian Airlines Joins Hands with CRENOV8

How it Works

NASCODE works just like drug verification technology in the pharmaceutical industry. A turnkey electronic labeling system will be used to label seeds. The farmer will scratch the label and send the unique authentication code to a certain number to verify if the seed producer is certificated by the National Agricultural Seeds Certificate.

Blockchain verification will be also available through a QR code scanner via a mobile app or web-based portal. The farmers can verify the quality of seeds within a few seconds. The NASCODE technology will ensure certification of seeds producers and monitor the entire seed value chain.

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Sesame seed is a flowering plant that has a wide variety of relative spread in Africa. Widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and dating as old as man’s existence, it is the oldest known oil seed known to man. Sesame is popular amongst African farmers and it can resist drought where other crops fail and it doesn’t require much fertiliser making it less expensive to cultivate.

Nigeria has a broad variety of commodities growing on its land, which have the potential to generate revenue and improve the Agric sector. One of such commodities is sesame seeds. Based on its colour, Sesame is classified into the white and brown varieties. The white grain (Food Grade) is used by bakeries for pastry garnishing and salad while the brown grain, often referred to as the oil grade, is used in the production of sesame oil.

Why Nigeria

Nigeria is the largest producer of sesame seeds in Africa, and the third largest in the world, with about 580,000 tonnes produced in 2017. 90% of sesame seeds produced in Nigeria are exported. As at Q1’18, it was the most exported non-oil commodity, which make it 0.57% to the total export value and 36.39% of agricultural exports. Taraba, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Edo and Benue are the four major states that produce this commodity in Nigeria.

Why Exporting To UAE and GCC Region

Sesame Seeds has lots of health and industrial benefits and is widely used for baking, medicine, cosmetics and animal feeds. It also has a high oil content (44–60%). Considering its health benefits and the growing preference for organic foods, which make it one of the most wanted agric product in the UAE and GCC region, which is positive for Nigeria.

Currently, Sesame seed is one of the top agro products imported into the UAE and other GCC with $43.90 million import value from Nigeria. $43.90m import value is expected to double up by 2020 as the population keeps increasing in the UAE and GCC Region. These present huge opportunities for Nigeria in terms of increasing fiscal and export revenue.

How To Become A Major Exporter

Before, agricultural products imported into the UAE from Africa are mostly from North Africa, particularly Egypt and Morocco. However, regardless of the lack of bilateral trade agreement between the UAE and most African countries, imports of agro products from many African countries are increasing, especially from Nigeria, which is a major supplier of Halal products to the UAE and other GCC countries.

To take advantage of these opportunities and exploit its potential, attend this year’s Meet the Farmers Conference (MTFC). An agro-business conference that aims to bring together large scale agricultural commodity producers from Africa to buyers within the countries that form the Gulf Corporation Council using Dubai as a trade centre.

Meet with the largest gathering of Agric stakeholders in Africa and the UAE at the Meet The Farmers Conference as we discuss The FUTURE OF AGRIBUSINESS which will hold in Nigeria at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Nigeria and Grand Finale at Conrad Hotel, Dubai UAE.

By attending this conference, be rest assured to be connected with key industry people, network, build partnerships and generate a new source of revenue for your agribusiness, establishing new strategic business partnerships, network with agric stakeholders in the UAE and GCC so as to start exporting the most wanted agric products, Sesame seed to the Gulf region.

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