The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has empowered exporters in the honey production value chain to leverage on the European Union (EU) and emerging markets for growth.
Speaking at a diagnostic study on honey in Lagos, the chief executive officer (CEO), NEPC, Dr. Ezra Yakusak, represented by the director, Product Development Department, NEPC, Mrs. Evelyn Obidike , said Nigeria has the competitive and comparative advantage to thrive in the global market for honey production, stressing that the event is an integrated approach by the council to equip exporters in the value chain of honey production.
“This is a diagnostic study on honey and honey products with specific emphasis on exporting Nigerian honey to the European Union and other emerging markets. We have featured in today’s event stakeholders in the value chain of bee production. We have the beekeepers, we have the processors, the packagers and marketers.
“So it is all through the chain, so it is an integrated approach because if you just go for the marketers and not knowing where the honey is coming from, you might get your fingers burnt,” he warned.
According to him, the most important aspect in exporting is traceability, quality, standard, packaging, handling and labelling, pointing out that information dissemination is key across the value chain.
“This is what the council is emphasising on now. The whole world is talking about quality, traceability, standard and sustainability. This is why NEPC is on top of this. We are working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development who are the competent authority. We are just facilitating.
“These bee keepers are registered with NEPC because we need to know where they are getting their products, the products they have and how it is labelled, processed and packaged,” he noted.
“We are very important as a stakeholder and this is why we are providing these rudiments to help Nigeria to secure the third world country listing which is required for export of honey and honey products to the EU and other emerging markets,” he averred.
Also speaking, the director general, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Sola Obadimu, lauded the council’s effort to enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products in its bid to address the high level of rejection faced by Nigerian products at the global scene.
He expressed optimism that the forum is a step in the right direction to tackling the issues involving challenges in the export market.
“NACCIMA, being the umbrella body of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), will support the council to achieve its mandate,” he assured.
On her part, a member, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and chairman, Export Group, LCCI, Mrs. Bosun Solarin, said certification still remains an issue for export in Nigeria, saying, importing countries will continue rejecting Nigeria’s products if they are not sure about traceability. She urged stakeholders in the bee production value chain to adhere strictly to global best practices.
“If most agencies of government can do half of what the Council is doing for entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship development challenges would be addressed head long.
“Until we all come together to hold our destiny in our hands rather than stand alone. We need to collaborate to make entrepreneurship development thrive in the country,” she advised.
According to her, “NEPC has done so much and we hope they keep doing better and also hope the federal government can keep supporting them so that they can support us.”
