Yam growers want FG to sign duty-free export agreement with EU

Yam growers in Nigeria under the aegis of National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors, and Marketers Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, on Thursday urged the Federal Government to sign trade agreements with European Union (EU) to secure duty-free yam export to Europe.

They made that call in a communiqué released after a 4-day Learning/Study Tour by Nigeria Yam Stakeholders to Ghana.

In the communique signed by Prof. Simon Irtwange, the association’s President and National Coordinator, Nigeria Technical Committee on Yam Export Programme, the group stated that Nigeria should take a cue from Ghana which had signed relevant trade agreements with EU.

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It stated that the agreement would enhance the development and growth of the Nigeria yam commodity sub-sector to ensure that yam becomes a major export commodity and contributes substantially to foreign earning of the government.

It added that the trade agreements required for duty free yam export to Europe are, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and provisional application of the European Union Free Trade Agreement (EUFTA).

According to the farmers, the trade agreement anabled Ghana to export Yam duty-free to Europe.

The communiqué said that Nigerian exports to UK attracted 9.5 Euros per 100 kg at present. It called on the Federal Government to assist yam and value added products exporters with export finances through NEXIM Bank and other funding agencies.

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