The Adamawa State Government has taken a major step to strengthen agricultural exports by covering the costs of 150 export licences for local farmers and potential exporters. This initiative is aimed at boosting the state’s participation in international trade and opening new markets for its produce.
Dr. Ishaya John Dabari, Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industries, highlighted the move during a one-day workshop on Good Agricultural Practices for Smallholder Farmers at the Nursing House, Jimeta. The workshop, organised by the Northeast Regional Office of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, focused on “Empowering Soybean Farmers for Export.”
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Saso Benson Ali, Dr. Dabari explained that paying for the export certification is intended to encourage soybean farmers and others cultivating exportable crops to explore global markets. He noted that low export volumes are partly due to middlemen reducing farmers’ profits and urged participants to form cooperative clusters and take advantage of NEPC support to reach international buyers directly.
Mr. Ben Anani Egon, NEPC Zonal Coordinator and Deputy Director, said soybean has been designated Adamawa’s export crop under the council’s “One State, One Crop” initiative. He stressed that the workshop aimed to teach best agricultural practices, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure farmers comply with export standards. He also warned against excessive use of chemicals, which often leads to Nigerian produce being rejected abroad.
Other speakers, including Hennath Thomas of the Soybean Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association, and Mrs. Petunia Kefas of the Adamawa Agricultural Development Programme, praised the initiative. They shared practical insights on agricultural techniques, export documentation, and procedures designed to improve productivity and make Adamawa’s farmers more competitive in the international market.
This program marks a deliberate effort by the state to empower farmers, expand agro-exports, and place Adamawa on the global agricultural map.
