The Federal Government has begun moves to implement a memo on the promotion of Agri-Business in Nigeria through Right Farm Gate Pricing and ban foreigners from purchasing agricultural commodities at the Farm Gates.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, who inaugurated an inter-ministerial standing committee to oversee the implementation of the memo in Abuja on Tuesday, said the document had been jointly presented by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on March 9, 2022, for approval by the Federal Executive Council.

Adebayo noted that the move was part of the government’s efforts to provide the enabling environment for the commodity subsector to thrive.

The minister said the memo was “aimed at addressing the challenges impeding the development of the agricultural commodity subsector of the economy, curtailing unfair trade malpractices and exploitation of Nigerian farmers by foreigners and promoting competitive premium pricing as impetus for increased productivity in the commodity subsector amongst others.”

He decried the exploitation of farmers by foreigners who come to Nigeria to mop up agricultural commodities at the farm gates and in turn offer farmers prices below market value.

“This situation has indeed led to the failure of many contractual agreements between farmers and indigenous off-takers. It has also affected the production capacity of our local factories due to the fact that foreigners buy off supplies and deprive the factories of required stocks.

“The current practice of direct purchases of agricultural commodities at unfair prices by foreigners at our farm-gates poses serious dangers which include reduction in farmers’ income, declining productivity in the agricultural sector, unemployment and insecurity,” Adebayo said.

According to him, “a number of activities have been outlined for implementation and the Committee is expected to ensure that they are properly articulated and implemented for the growth and development of our economy.”

The minister further charged the committee to come up with an appropriate implementation mechanism and guidelines for implementing the approved FEC Memo as well as liaise with states, local governments, and other relevant stakeholders nationwide to enforce the ban and compliance.

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Adebayo said other terms of reference for the committee were “To facilitate establishment of enforcement organs in the States and Local Governments; To facilitate signing of Executive Order by Mr President, specifying penalties and fines for violators.

“To liaise with the State Governments for establishment of commodity aggregation centres for export in some strategic locations nation-wide and “To carry out periodic assessment (quarterly) on the implementation and Honourable Minister.”

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Evelyn Ngige, represented by the Director, Human Resource Management in the Ministry, Yisau Adepoju, said the committee was saddled with the duty of ensuring 100 per cent implementation of the approved memo.

Ngige noted that part of the mandate of the ministry is to formulate and implement policies and programmes to attract investment, boost industrialisation, increase trade and export, and develop enterprises with a view to promoting economic growth, creating jobs and generating wealth.

“As you are aware, the Ministry is passionate about the promotion and development of the non-oil sector having realised the enormous potential of the sector and its contributions to the national economy.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that wealth from crude oil is not sustainable given the fact that the oil wells will certainly dry up someday. Nigeria is naturally endowed with vast and fertile arable lands suitable for production of many commodities.

“The production, processing and marketing of these commodities not only provide food security but also jobs, income and foreign exchange, amongst others,” she said.

The permanent secretary said the ministry has put in place a number of programmes and initiatives to reposition the subsector.

According to Ngige, the initiatives include the campaign on patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products, Nigeria Agri-business and Agro-industry Development Initiative (NAADI), Domestication of Global (GAP), E-Commerce, and the Commerce 160 Initiative, amongst others.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Suleman Audu, expressed the readiness and willingness of the committee to provide the required leadership and coordination to ensure efficient implementation of its mandate.

Audu, who appreciated the government for the confidence reposed in them, pledged on behalf of the committee members not to disappoint the government on the very important assignment.

He said the assignment has come just-in-time when the present administration has reiterated its focus on the development of the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

The Star