NEPC, NCRI Partner On Agric Tech Exhibition

Cattle rearing: Cows crossing the Nasarawa-Benue express way on Friday

The Nigerian Export
Promotion Council (NEPC), and the National Cereal Research Council, (NCRI) plan to  host a bi-annual  exhibition and forum soon.
The exhibition hopes to explore improved technologies for agricultural production which would lead to national self-sufficiency in food and industrial raw materials as well as for export.
According to a release made available to our correspondent from the zonal office of NEPC in Port Harcourt recently, the Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo was quoted to have said that the event would provide a veritable platform for stakeholders in the non-oil sector to exchange ideas.
Represented by the Director, Product Development, Mr Henry Otowo the statement said the event would also afford participants the opportunity to showcase their products, programmes and projects with a view to attracting partnership, local and foreign investors to boost activities in the non-oil export sector.
He explained that the objective of the working visit of the NEPC boss recently to NCRI Headquarters in Badeggi, Niger State was to have a robust interface and synergy with relevant stakeholders with a view to achieving the council’s mandate of developing and promoting non-oil exports.
According to him current economic realities occasioned by the falling global crude oil prices and lack of patronage by major oil consuming nations notably the US has led to a corresponding drop in oil revenue accruable to Nigeria.
He said the development had made it imperative for the country to diversify its economic base towards making non-oil sector a major driver for the Nigerian economy.
Based on these realities, he explained that NEPC deemed it necessary to be at the forefront to fast track the diversification process by adopting strategies that would seek to convert Nigeria’s comparative advantage as the leading nation for production of many agric commodities.
Responding, the Ag. Executive Director, NCRI, Dr . L.T. Ogunremi informed the NEPC delegation that several value added products had been developed over the years that could boost export to countries having similar food habit and culture.
He suggested some of the areas of collaboration between the council and the institute to include amongst others, instant cereal basket (porridge), soybean seasonings (soyabean dawadawa), high-protein energy weaning foods and low glycemic acha based products for people with special heath needs.
These products he noted had shown high consumer preference and acceptability while their production are highly profitable and the raw materials are available locally.