Back to: Jss3 Agricultural Science (PVS)

Export Promotion in Agriculture

Export promotion in agriculture refers to a range of activities aimed at increasing the sales of agricultural products to foreign countries. These activities include identifying potential markets and products, locating new investment opportunities, providing trade information, offering support services such as assistance with export procedures, product quality, export financing, transportation, and organizing trade fairs and missions.

Trade fairs are exhibitions that bring together producers and buyers to transact business, while trade missions are groups of individuals, including government representatives and private sector delegates, who visit foreign countries to promote trade.

Export promotion is the responsibility of organizations known as Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs), and in Nigeria, the federal government agency responsible for promoting trade in Nigerian goods is the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). The NEPC was established in 1977 through the Nigerian Export Promotion Act No. 26 of 1976 and has been amended several times to improve its performance and increase its autonomy in dealing with private sector organizations involved in exporting.

Some of the agricultural products exported from Nigeria include cassava, cashew nuts, charcoal, chillies, cocoa, beans, coffee, cotton lint, fish, ginger, groundnut, gum Arabic, horns, kola nut, poultry, rubber, sesame seed, peanuts, shrimps, skins, snails, tobacco, vegetable oil, wheat pellets, yam, and grasscutter. These products are promoted by the NEPC and other TPOs through a range of activities aimed at increasing their visibility and sales in foreign markets.

PROCESSED FOODS, VEGETABLES AND SPICES

Horticulture Products

There are several horticulture products grown in Nigeria that have significant market demand. These products include ginger, garlic, ukazi, cassava flour, garri, locust beans, yam flour, plantain flour, ground rice, ground melon, and dehydrated vegetables. Additionally, other horticulture products such as okra, mangetout (French beans), chillies, mangoes, pineapples, sugar cane, and cut-live-flowers are also produced in Nigeria.

Exportation

Nigeria is a major exporter of agricultural products in Africa, and there are several agricultural products exported from the country. Some of the agricultural export products exported from Nigeria include cassava, cashew nut, charcoal, chillies, cocoa, beans, coffee, cotton lint, fish, ginger, groundnut, gum Arabic, horns, kola nut, poultry, rubber, sesame seed, shea nuts, shrimps, skins, snails, tobacco, vegetable oil, wheat pellets, yam, and grasscutter.

Exportation of these products is vital to the Nigerian economy as it contributes to the country’s foreign exchange earnings, provides employment opportunities for many people, and improves the country’s balance of trade.

IMPORTANCE OF EXPORT PROMOTION

The agriculture sector plays a crucial role in the economy of many countries. Not only does it provide food and raw materials, but it also generates employment opportunities and means of livelihood for workers involved in various stages of production, processing, transportation, and export. This includes farmers, farm labourers, food processors, truck drivers, and shipping personnel, among others.

Moreover, agriculture exports contribute significantly to a country’s foreign exchange earnings. When agricultural products are exported, they bring in money from other countries, which can help boost the exporter’s economy. Additionally, the foreign exchange earnings can be used to pay for imports of goods and services that the country needs.

Another benefit of agriculture is that it can increase farmers’ income. By producing high-quality crops and livestock, farmers can command better prices for their products, which can help them improve their standard of living and invest in their farms. Furthermore, by adopting modern farming techniques and technologies, farmers can increase their yields, which can translate into higher profits.

Agriculture can foster bilateral and multilateral trade relationships among nations. When countries trade agricultural products, they create economic interdependence, which can lead to closer political and cultural ties. This can be particularly important in fostering peace and stability in the international community.

EXPORT PROHIBITIONS

The Nigerian government has implemented regulations to manage export trade and safeguard natural and agricultural resources from being exploited. To this end, the Nigerian Customs Service has prohibited the export of certain products. These prohibited items include wet blue and all unfinished leather, unprocessed rubber latex and lumps, as well as wild animals classified as endangered species and their products. By enforcing these regulations, the Nigerian government is taking steps to protect its valuable resources and ensure their sustainable use for future generations.