Post by Trade facilitator on Aug 19, 2016 5:47:25 GMT 1
Ongoing efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to diversify the economy gained a boost following Nigeria’s rating as the sixth largest producer of Sesame seed across the world.
According to the statistics reeled out, China leads the chart followed by India, Myanmar, Sudan and Uganda. However Nigeria was rated third largest producer of Sesame Seed in Africa.
Minister of State Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar made this known at the flag-off of Sesame Seed planting season and launching of sesame seed Manual/Business plan in Sokoto state.
She affirmed the program is in line with the focus of the present administration in diversifying the economy through the development of non-oil sector by boosting production and export of non-oil products such as agric-commodities, solid minerals and manufactured products.
The commodity is produced mainly in 21 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, producing between 250,000-300,000 metric tonnes annually with enormous potential for higher output.
However, inspite of the huge potentials and numerous benefits existing in the Sesame Seed industry in Nigeria, the value-chains linkage is weak largely due to inability to effectively link production to processing and marketing.
She further revealed that her Ministry is building Strong synergy with relevant MDAs such as Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMR&DC), Research Institute s, the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN) and the nation’s development partners towards ensuring that Nigerian producers comply with best practices for quality, packaging and labelling standards for commodities and manufactured products.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Aminu Aliyu Bisalla said the event marks the beginning of profitable commercial production of improved Sesame Seed variety with corresponding profitable investment in processing and marketing and attendance of state government and stakeholders is a testimony to commitment and collective resolve to assist government in her efforts to develop the non-oil sector of the economy for sustainable, growth and development of the country.
The Permanent Secretary represented by Assistant Director Commodities, Irimiya Kaura further said Sesame Seed is the second largest export commodity in Nigeria after Cocoa and is produced in 21 States of the country with 70% of total output of between 250,000-300,000 metric tonnes traded overseas annually.
Responding, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto the project brought to the state by the Minister is a welcome idea and would greater attention more than other commodities produced in the state.
He then revealed that the state government and relevant associations would educate farmers on how best to produce the commodity for the benefit of the state and the country in general adding that one of the benefits of the commodity is it could be harvested three times in a year and therefore serve as income generator to both farmers and the government.
He therefore called on farmers and stakeholders to aspire and develop more interest in the activity as the state government intend to invest heavily on system.
Source: nationalaccordnewspaper.com/2016/08/nigeria-rated-6th-largest-producer-sesame-seed-worldwide/
