Nigerians vow to stop pepper importation from Cameroon

Stakeholders in the pepper and tomato value chains have vowed to put an end to the importation of the two farm produce through the Atlantic Ocean from Cameroon to Calabar in Cross River State. Lamenting the situation recently at an interactive session in Calabar, the stakeholders, including officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Cross […]

Stakeholders in the pepper and tomato value chains have vowed to put an end to the importation of the two farm produce through the Atlantic Ocean from Cameroon to Calabar in Cross River State.
Lamenting the situation recently at an interactive session in Calabar, the stakeholders, including officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Cross River Agricultural Development Project (CRADP), the state chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), BICCO Agro Products West Africa Ltd, individual farmers and traders, among others, said it was a dangerous and an unacceptable venture.
“We can grow pepper, tomato and other vegetables here in Cross River State. Why do we go all the way taking a lot of risks crossing rivers to import from Cameroon?” The project manager of CRADP, Dr. Martina Ubi, said.
“Don’t cross river again. Let’s grow pepper here and call it Calabar pepper instead of Cameroon pepper,” she urged the stakeholders.
A private sector stakeholder, Mr. Nnamdi Ukoko, Country Representative of BICCO Agro Products West Africa Ltd, told the stakeholders: “We learnt of the importation through the Atlantic Ocean and the terrible boat accidents and attacks on the women traders by sea robbers and got worried. That’s why we are calling on the government, farmers and others to play their roles and promote pepper and tomato farming in the state.”
Mr. Ukoko said if there are soil, weather or any other limitations to the cultivation of the crops, experts at the CRADP and their partners could carry out more research to tackle the obstacles.
Also decrying the situation, the state chairman of AFAN, Pastor Etim Nakanda, who described it as worrisome and embarrassing, urged the government to create enabling environment for the cultivation of the crops to stop importation.
“We have fertile land all over Cross River State. Let us grow our own pepper and call it ‘Calabar pepper’. Importation of Cameroon pepper must stop,” Pastor Nakanda said.
One of the traders, Mrs. Blessing Okon, told our reporter that despite the risks associated with the importation of the items, the business was booming because of the high cost of pepper and tomato brought in from the northern part of Nigeria, and high preference for the hot Cameroon pepper in the state.