` ``No shortcut to quality, exportable products,’’ Agric Ministry tells farmers
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday said that there was no shortcut to producing quality products that would meet the international community’s standards.
A director in the ministry’s Lagos office, Mrs Olufunmilola Olusanya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
Olusanya said that when such agricultural products meet international standards, they would not be rejected by the countries importing them.
Olusanya cited the European Union (EU)’s ban on some agricultural products from Nigeria as a shortfall faced by not regulating the qualities of products being exported from Nigeria.
It also showed our lack of readiness to access information from competent authorities for our products to meet with international agencies’ specifications, she said.
``The recent rejection of beans from Nigeria by EU countries showed that our farmers did not do what we call right practices when farming and they got some things wrong when applying fertilizer to their crops.
``There is no problem with applying fertilizer but the quantity must be up to the standard in this case, the quantity applied to grow the beans then was too much.
``We need to educate ourselves; there are no shortcuts in this world and anybody that tries to cut corners will end up having issues," she said.
The director advised farmers to always meet set standards and ensure that their products pass relevant screenings from competent authorities before exporting them.
``Another thing we need to know as farmers is that there are competent authorities in this country. Before you must export any produce, there are some ministries or departments that must certify such produce but most farmers do not approach them.
``I'm into fisheries and I know the department of fisheries is the competent agency of government that can certify my products as being fit for export. So, I must go through the fisheries’ department.
``And if you on your own, you export well packaged, well processed fish to any of the EU countries, they will reject it.
``Not because it is substandard but because it has not passed through the appropriate authorities. So, we need to enlighten our farmers on how to go about it and I believe the press has to assist in this area.
``People don’t know where to get information and when they come to us for information, they feel it is too stringent.
``For that reason; they look for shortcuts, and at the end of the day their products are rejected by the countries they have exported them to," Olusanya said.
She appealed to farmers to acquire adequate knowledge on how to perform laboratory-tests on their products.
Olusanta said that through that, they would be able to certify the qualities of their products and detect any problems affecting them beforehand to avoid rejection.
``Sometimes, farmers don’t need to carry out any tests, especially, when they are meant for an EU country once they carry the stamp of the department of fisheries.
``But if the department of fisheries’ stamp is not found on them, EU countries will reject them and I’m sure this applies to other products.
``Some countries accept products from originating countries and carry out laboratory analysis on them. If the results of the analysis are not right, they will reject such products but if they are right, they will accept them.
``If you want to test your fish, we have a laboratory in the department: Federal Government and private sector owned.
``They will do a fine analysis for you, and if you have problems they will tell you," she said.
The director also said that farmers should endeavour to go through the right channels to have good produce and a good export business.
A director in the ministry’s Lagos office, Mrs Olufunmilola Olusanya, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
Olusanya said that when such agricultural products meet international standards, they would not be rejected by the countries importing them.
Olusanya cited the European Union (EU)’s ban on some agricultural products from Nigeria as a shortfall faced by not regulating the qualities of products being exported from Nigeria.
It also showed our lack of readiness to access information from competent authorities for our products to meet with international agencies’ specifications, she said.
``The recent rejection of beans from Nigeria by EU countries showed that our farmers did not do what we call right practices when farming and they got some things wrong when applying fertilizer to their crops.
``There is no problem with applying fertilizer but the quantity must be up to the standard in this case, the quantity applied to grow the beans then was too much.
``We need to educate ourselves; there are no shortcuts in this world and anybody that tries to cut corners will end up having issues," she said.
The director advised farmers to always meet set standards and ensure that their products pass relevant screenings from competent authorities before exporting them.
``Another thing we need to know as farmers is that there are competent authorities in this country. Before you must export any produce, there are some ministries or departments that must certify such produce but most farmers do not approach them.
``I'm into fisheries and I know the department of fisheries is the competent agency of government that can certify my products as being fit for export. So, I must go through the fisheries’ department.
``And if you on your own, you export well packaged, well processed fish to any of the EU countries, they will reject it.
``Not because it is substandard but because it has not passed through the appropriate authorities. So, we need to enlighten our farmers on how to go about it and I believe the press has to assist in this area.
``People don’t know where to get information and when they come to us for information, they feel it is too stringent.
``For that reason; they look for shortcuts, and at the end of the day their products are rejected by the countries they have exported them to," Olusanya said.
She appealed to farmers to acquire adequate knowledge on how to perform laboratory-tests on their products.
Olusanta said that through that, they would be able to certify the qualities of their products and detect any problems affecting them beforehand to avoid rejection.
``Sometimes, farmers don’t need to carry out any tests, especially, when they are meant for an EU country once they carry the stamp of the department of fisheries.
``But if the department of fisheries’ stamp is not found on them, EU countries will reject them and I’m sure this applies to other products.
``Some countries accept products from originating countries and carry out laboratory analysis on them. If the results of the analysis are not right, they will reject such products but if they are right, they will accept them.
``If you want to test your fish, we have a laboratory in the department: Federal Government and private sector owned.
``They will do a fine analysis for you, and if you have problems they will tell you," she said.
The director also said that farmers should endeavour to go through the right channels to have good produce and a good export business.
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