Adamawa Govt Pays for 150 Export Licences to Boost Agricultural Exports

The Adamawa State Government has paid for 150 export licences for potential exporters of agricultural produce as part of efforts to promote agro-export and strengthen the state’s participation in international trade. Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industries, Dr. Ishaya John Dabari, disclosed this during a one-day workshop on Good Agricultural Practices for Smallholder Farmers held […]

The Adamawa State Government has paid for 150 export licences for potential exporters of agricultural produce as part of efforts to promote agro-export and strengthen the state’s participation in international trade.

Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industries, Dr. Ishaya John Dabari, disclosed this during a one-day workshop on Good Agricultural Practices for Smallholder Farmers held at the Nursing House, Jimeta.

The event, organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Northeast Regional Office, had the theme “Empowering Soybean Farmers for Export.”

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Saso Benson Ali, Dr. Dabari said the government’s decision to bear the cost of export certification was aimed at encouraging soybean farmers and others cultivating exportable crops to take advantage of global market opportunities.

He noted that agricultural exports from Adamawa remain low, partly due to middlemen exploiting farmers and reducing their profit margins. He urged participants to form cooperative clusters and leverage NEPC’s support to access international buyers directly.

NEPC Zonal Coordinator and Deputy Director, Mr. Ben Anani Egon, said soybean is Adamawa’s designated export crop under the council’s “One State, One Crop” initiative. He emphasized that the workshop was designed to promote best agricultural practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure compliance with export standards.

Egon also cautioned against the excessive use of chemicals, noting that it often leads to the rejection of Nigerian produce abroad.

Other speakers, including Hennath Thomas of the Soybean Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association and Mrs. Petunia Kefas of the Adamawa Agricultural Development Programme, commended the initiative and shared insights on good agricultural practices, export documentation, and procedures to enhance farmers’ productivity and competitiveness.