80 Sugarcane Farmers Get NEPC Training On Value Addition In Nasarawa
From Ajegena Manga
Lafia
The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has trained 80 Sugarcane producers on value addition in Nasarawa State.
Speaking at the training on Friday in Lafia, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi-Tumba, Head of Lafia Office of NEPC said the programme was aimed at equipping the producers with requisite practical skills on how to add value to the product for export.
She explained that the climatic condition of Nasarawa State is conducive for sugarcane farming and urged the participants to take advantage of it.
Hajiya Abdullahi-Tumba said if sugarcane farmers in the state practice the value addition strategy, they would export the products from sugarcane to other countries of the world.
She pointed out that over dependence on importing sugar from the global market has posed negative effects to country and its citizens.
She therefore added that the efforts was in line with the efforts of the Federal government to diversify the economy and ensure that non-oil is fully developed as part of economy recovery.
Speaking at event, Mr Abdulmumini Aminu, National President, National Sugarcane Producers Processors and Markers Association of Nigeria (NAPPMAN) lauded NEPC for the training.
The National President of NAPPMAN Aminu said Nigeria spent billions annually on importation of refined sugar and expressed optimism that all that would soon come to stop with the current efforts being made.
On his part, Ibrahim Akha-Mohammed, Nasarawa State Chairman of NAPPMAN said the training was apt and promised to utilise the lessons learned to improve production of sugarcane as well as add value to it.
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“I believe that the pilot cluster farming that had commenced in Nasarawa State would soon attract local and foreign investors to the state,” he said.
The participants were drawn Lafia, Doma, Awe, Obi and Keana Local Government Areas of the state.
