Post by Trade facilitator on Sept 6, 2023 22:30:06 GMT 1
Boosting Agro-Exports: A Blueprint For Resolving International Rejection Of Nigerian Smoked Fish And Fish Meal
This is the third in the series of articles we are writing revealing things that the government and the organized private sector can do to stop the incessant rejection of our agricultural products by international buyers.
We are treating smoked fish and fish meal today, the third in the list provided by NAFDAC.
Before we start crying wolf, the following are some simple things killing the smoked fish business in Nigeria.
Ignorance:
The major problem is ignorance, immediately one big fisherman hears that there is big money in the export of dried fish and that you can be paid in dollars, without trying to find out what is involved he jumps in and starts to smoke the fish using firewood and other local energy sources. Why do you think that such a commodity can pass international standards? Never, things must be done correctly.
Testing Centres: How many smoked fish and fish meal testing facilities do we have in Nigeria to test the quality of the commodities before export? I remember the time of SGS inspecting commodities in Nigeria, with your SGS certificate; your commodity can never be rejected.
Certification: Do we have a certification system that verifies the authenticity and safety of products through comprehensive documentation?
Cold chain facilities: How many cold chain facilities do we have in the country that will help maintain the freshness of the fish during transportation to the processing center from the source of the commodity?
I can also vividly remember when a friend of mine was exporting peeled fresh shrimps from Apapa port to the UK, most of the times he will be rushing to ship the commodity because there had been power outage since morning and the shrimps are getting bad, no inspector, no testing and no certification.
After two weeks and the commodity gets to the destination, 75% of the goods have gone bad and all his investments had gone down the drain as his goods had been destroyed. That was the end of his ambition in fresh shrimp business in Nigeria. Can you beat that?
Introduction:
Let us now go into the article proper.
The international rejection of Nigerian agro-export commodities, particularly smoked fish and fish meal, is a concerning issue that demands immediate attention. In order to reverse this trend and ensure the acceptance of these products in the global market, the Federal Government of Nigeria must undertake a comprehensive approach that addresses various factors contributing to rejection. This article outlines a pragmatic and accessible strategy to tackle this problem and boost the reputation of Nigerian agro-exports.
Understanding the Problem:
Quality Assurance: One of the major reasons for international rejection is the inconsistent quality of smoked fish and fish meal. This can be attributed to inadequate processing techniques, hygiene standards, and lack of standardized grading systems.
Traceability and Documentation: Many international buyers require detailed information about the origin, production, and handling of the products. Inaccurate or incomplete documentation can lead to rejection due to concerns about safety and authenticity.
Regulations and Standards: Failure to meet international food safety and quality standards is a critical issue. Compliance with regulations such as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is essential to gain the trust of foreign buyers.
Infrastructure and Packaging: Inefficient transportation, storage, and packaging can lead to deterioration of product quality during transit, resulting in rejection upon arrival.
Proposed Solutions:
Quality Enhancement:
Improved Processing Standards:
Provide training and support for fish processors to learn modern best practices for smoking, drying, and storing fish to meet international food safety and quality standards. This includes using improved kilns, brining techniques, adequate drying, and hygienic packaging.
Introduce mandatory licensing for fish processing facilities based on meeting processing standards. Inspect facilities regularly.
Subsidize equipment upgrades for processors to improve technology for smoking, drying, grinding, and storing fish and fish meal.
Create a national fish processing certification program and promote certified products to increase trust and demand.
Training and Capacity Building: Establish training programs for fishermen, processors, and exporters to impart modern and hygienic processing techniques.
Quality Control Centers: Set up regional quality control centers to monitor and certify the quality of smoked fish and fish meal before export.
Standardization: Develop and implement standardized grading systems to ensure consistency in product quality.
Traceability and Documentation:
Digital Platforms: Create an easily accessible online platform for registering and documenting production and handling processes. This platform can be used to generate accurate and transparent traceability reports.
Certification: Introduce a certification system that verifies the authenticity and safety of products through comprehensive documentation.
Regulations and Standards:
Testing and Inspection:
Expand federal and state inspection facilities for testing exported fish products for safety, quality, and compliance with standards and importers' specifications.
Subsidize or reimburse exporters’ costs for testing and certification requirements.
Rigorously inspect processing facilities and fish consignments before export approval. Destroy substandard products.
Capacity Strengthening: Invest in regulatory bodies to enhance their capacity for monitoring and enforcing food safety and quality standards.
Collaboration: Collaborate with international organizations and neighboring countries to align regulations and standards, reducing confusion for exporters.
Infrastructure and Packaging:
Cold Chain Facilities: Improve cold chain infrastructure to maintain product freshness during transportation.
Proper Packaging: Provide guidelines and incentives for appropriate packaging to prevent spoilage and damage.
Market Diversification and Promotion:
Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to identify potential export destinations, market trends, and consumer preferences for smoked fish and fish meal.
Trade Missions and Exhibitions: Organize trade missions and participate in international exhibitions to showcase Nigerian products, establish contacts, and build trust among buyers.
Branding and Marketing: Develop a strong national brand for Nigerian agro-exports, emphasizing quality, safety, and sustainability.
Conclusion:
Resolving the issue of international rejection of Nigerian smoked fish and fish meal requires a multifaceted approach that addresses quality, traceability, regulations, infrastructure, and promotion. By implementing the proposed solutions and fostering collaboration among relevant stakeholders, the Federal Government of Nigeria can not only reverse the ugly trend of rejection but also establish a strong foothold in the global agro-export market, benefiting the national economy and the livelihoods of local producers and exporters.
Addendum:
Our company is one of the best companies in the Agro-Export business in Nigeria today. We train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
This is the third in the series of articles we are writing revealing things that the government and the organized private sector can do to stop the incessant rejection of our agricultural products by international buyers.
We are treating smoked fish and fish meal today, the third in the list provided by NAFDAC.
Before we start crying wolf, the following are some simple things killing the smoked fish business in Nigeria.
Ignorance:
The major problem is ignorance, immediately one big fisherman hears that there is big money in the export of dried fish and that you can be paid in dollars, without trying to find out what is involved he jumps in and starts to smoke the fish using firewood and other local energy sources. Why do you think that such a commodity can pass international standards? Never, things must be done correctly.
Testing Centres: How many smoked fish and fish meal testing facilities do we have in Nigeria to test the quality of the commodities before export? I remember the time of SGS inspecting commodities in Nigeria, with your SGS certificate; your commodity can never be rejected.
Certification: Do we have a certification system that verifies the authenticity and safety of products through comprehensive documentation?
Cold chain facilities: How many cold chain facilities do we have in the country that will help maintain the freshness of the fish during transportation to the processing center from the source of the commodity?
I can also vividly remember when a friend of mine was exporting peeled fresh shrimps from Apapa port to the UK, most of the times he will be rushing to ship the commodity because there had been power outage since morning and the shrimps are getting bad, no inspector, no testing and no certification.
After two weeks and the commodity gets to the destination, 75% of the goods have gone bad and all his investments had gone down the drain as his goods had been destroyed. That was the end of his ambition in fresh shrimp business in Nigeria. Can you beat that?
Introduction:
Let us now go into the article proper.
The international rejection of Nigerian agro-export commodities, particularly smoked fish and fish meal, is a concerning issue that demands immediate attention. In order to reverse this trend and ensure the acceptance of these products in the global market, the Federal Government of Nigeria must undertake a comprehensive approach that addresses various factors contributing to rejection. This article outlines a pragmatic and accessible strategy to tackle this problem and boost the reputation of Nigerian agro-exports.
Understanding the Problem:
Quality Assurance: One of the major reasons for international rejection is the inconsistent quality of smoked fish and fish meal. This can be attributed to inadequate processing techniques, hygiene standards, and lack of standardized grading systems.
Traceability and Documentation: Many international buyers require detailed information about the origin, production, and handling of the products. Inaccurate or incomplete documentation can lead to rejection due to concerns about safety and authenticity.
Regulations and Standards: Failure to meet international food safety and quality standards is a critical issue. Compliance with regulations such as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is essential to gain the trust of foreign buyers.
Infrastructure and Packaging: Inefficient transportation, storage, and packaging can lead to deterioration of product quality during transit, resulting in rejection upon arrival.
Proposed Solutions:
Quality Enhancement:
Improved Processing Standards:
Provide training and support for fish processors to learn modern best practices for smoking, drying, and storing fish to meet international food safety and quality standards. This includes using improved kilns, brining techniques, adequate drying, and hygienic packaging.
Introduce mandatory licensing for fish processing facilities based on meeting processing standards. Inspect facilities regularly.
Subsidize equipment upgrades for processors to improve technology for smoking, drying, grinding, and storing fish and fish meal.
Create a national fish processing certification program and promote certified products to increase trust and demand.
Training and Capacity Building: Establish training programs for fishermen, processors, and exporters to impart modern and hygienic processing techniques.
Quality Control Centers: Set up regional quality control centers to monitor and certify the quality of smoked fish and fish meal before export.
Standardization: Develop and implement standardized grading systems to ensure consistency in product quality.
Traceability and Documentation:
Digital Platforms: Create an easily accessible online platform for registering and documenting production and handling processes. This platform can be used to generate accurate and transparent traceability reports.
Certification: Introduce a certification system that verifies the authenticity and safety of products through comprehensive documentation.
Regulations and Standards:
Testing and Inspection:
Expand federal and state inspection facilities for testing exported fish products for safety, quality, and compliance with standards and importers' specifications.
Subsidize or reimburse exporters’ costs for testing and certification requirements.
Rigorously inspect processing facilities and fish consignments before export approval. Destroy substandard products.
Capacity Strengthening: Invest in regulatory bodies to enhance their capacity for monitoring and enforcing food safety and quality standards.
Collaboration: Collaborate with international organizations and neighboring countries to align regulations and standards, reducing confusion for exporters.
Infrastructure and Packaging:
Cold Chain Facilities: Improve cold chain infrastructure to maintain product freshness during transportation.
Proper Packaging: Provide guidelines and incentives for appropriate packaging to prevent spoilage and damage.
Market Diversification and Promotion:
Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to identify potential export destinations, market trends, and consumer preferences for smoked fish and fish meal.
Trade Missions and Exhibitions: Organize trade missions and participate in international exhibitions to showcase Nigerian products, establish contacts, and build trust among buyers.
Branding and Marketing: Develop a strong national brand for Nigerian agro-exports, emphasizing quality, safety, and sustainability.
Conclusion:
Resolving the issue of international rejection of Nigerian smoked fish and fish meal requires a multifaceted approach that addresses quality, traceability, regulations, infrastructure, and promotion. By implementing the proposed solutions and fostering collaboration among relevant stakeholders, the Federal Government of Nigeria can not only reverse the ugly trend of rejection but also establish a strong foothold in the global agro-export market, benefiting the national economy and the livelihoods of local producers and exporters.
Addendum:
Our company is one of the best companies in the Agro-Export business in Nigeria today. We train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
