By Aminu Dandawaki
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Jigawa State Coordinating office, has pledged to enhance the export readiness of agricultural commodities in the state. This commitment follows a one-day workshop on agricultural export readiness and sensitization, held recently at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, Jigawa State.
The workshop, organized by the Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, gathered key stakeholders, including representatives from the Export Promotion Council, Shippers Council of Nigeria, Financial Institutions, Government Agencies, and Farmers’ Associations. The event aimed to assess the potential for agricultural exports from Jigawa, identify obstacles, and explore practical solutions.
Participants received in-depth insights into the export process and value chain from experts across organizations. A major highlight was a presentation by the Export Promotion Council, which underscored the benefits of exporting value-added products over raw commodities, explaining how this shift could increase earnings and market competitiveness for local farmers and businesses. The Council further recommended that RMRDC consider establishing commodity processing facilities in Jigawa, similar to initiatives in other states, to support value addition.
A representative from the Women Farmers Association emphasized the pressing need for capacity-building programs to help farmers gain skills in export processes, such as product packaging and quality enhancement.
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Responding, the RMRDC Jigawa State Coordinator, Mr. Abdulhamid Mohammed pledged to develop capacity-building programs to equip farmers with essential skills for improving product quality, value addition, and marketability. “Additionally, the RMRDC office plans to submit a request to headquarters for processing equipment to further support these efforts”, he stated.
This initiative aligns with RMRDC’s mission to promote the development and utilization of Nigeria’s raw materials. By facilitating value-added agricultural exports, RMRDC aims to bolster economic growth in Jigawa State and Nigeria at large.
