Europe Seeks Partnership In Nigeria's Agric Sector

Business | Posted by: OLUYINKA ALAWODE
Businesses of European Union origin are seeking
more business opportunities and partnerships in
Nigeria, especially in the agricultural sector. This
was clearly demonstrated at the recently held
European Union-Nigeria business forum,
agriculture session.
Affirming this, Akinwunmi Adesina, Nigeria’s
minister of agriculture, after a meeting with the
stakeholders in this move being made by Europe,
said: “There is a lot of opportunities for Europe
and Nigeria for agribusiness investment
partnerships. We plan to play big in the
horticulture market in Europe because Nigeria is
closer to Europe than Kenya, Tanzania or even
Mozambique. We are going to take advantage of
our big size in the horticulture market. The largest
market is in Europe, but that market is quite
difficult to penetrate because it is based on a lot of
safety standards, consumer standards that we
have to meet, so we have been working together
with the ambassadors of the European countries
to prepare Nigeria to enter that global horticulture
market.”
He reiterated President Goodluck Jonathan’s
support in getting the country to move towards
this fresh produce export market with Europe,
however, noting that issues such as certification,
farm audits, contracts with supermarkets were
hurdles to be crossed but he was already in
consultation with the ambassadors of those
European countries over the issues.
Adesina said: “I believe that Europe needs to open
up its markets for us in terms of value added
export, we don’t want to export raw materials but
value added products, so they need to change
the current situation where you pay higher tariffs
if you are exporting value added products.”
The ministry is encouraging farmers to get into
groups in order to meet the standards to access
this export market, he said, saying “we are
organising our farmers into groups because for
horticulture you must produce what the market
wants, when it needs it, the quality it needs and
the price the market is ready to pay for it. In
Europe, your farm has to be certified to sell fresh
produce.”
According to him, the National Agricultural
Quarantine Services (NAQS), an agency under his
ministry, is the one that gives certification to
farmers that want to export. He said: “NAQS
helps them to recognise the amount of residue
levels above which they will not be allowed in the
European market. The NAQS will play a greater
role as we look to the export market in particular
for fresh produce. We are improving extension
systems to help our farmers understand the
needs of the market. The world is changing very
rapidly and Nigeria is not going to be a laggard,
our farmers have to modernise and that is why
we are using modern tools.”
The organisers of the event expect that through
such forum, the capacity of Nigerian investors,
especially farmers would be improved in order to
access the export market and succeed in the
international market.
Jennifer Ijeoma Anoika, COO, Nigerian German
Business Association, said: “A lot of Nigerians do
not know the regulations or the changes in the
regulations, the SMEs in particular. We want to
see more small companies such as Tropical
Natural, which is doing quite well with the Dudu
Osun, with export products.”
Provide the needed support for reliable Nigerian
businesses that want to travel to Europe and
pursue business partnerships there.
Lawrence Ohue-Inegbenoise, from Friesland
Campina, explained the company’s plans to get
more indigenous farmers and investors involved
in sourcing milk for its production.