The Recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) – Approved Policy Making It Illegal For Foreigners to Buy From Farmers Directly At The Farm Gates Is A Welcomed Development.

It is a timely response to the yearning of mostly commodity Associations, especially the National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) and the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) who also made the call.

We are commending this for several reasons:

1. It will ‘cover’ Nigeria’s nakedness as a country because exposing our rural areas and farmers, as the charcoal dealers, suppliers and producers to foreigners is fraught with danger in terms of security;

2. The execution of the policy to the letter will create jobs for Nigerians who would be encouraged to fill the void to be created through the policy by getting into the business of exporting which commodities will be sourced from the dealers, and suppliers for delivery to processors and exporters;

3. It will also ensure that only good quality produce is allowed to get to the processors and exporters

4. It will strengthen the value chain as every participant would know his boundary and guard it jealously for the good of all;

5. It will also ensure that every stakeholder pays adequately for whatever quantity of produce he takes from the chain

6. Every participant would benefit from the ensuing changes provided the following initiatives are put in place.

The proper definition of the role is to be played by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) for it is not uncommon to hear that many of the foreigners came into Nigeria with mere visitors’ visas and later settled down doing business in the country.

How does the NIS handle that? Proper documentation and monitoring of the foreigners through the commodity Associations to ensure they are in the country for the purpose they came for (E.g. – Anyone foreigner coming into the country for the business of charcoal, shall get the approval of its exporter for inspection purposes and never to cross their limit or if coming for the first start, must come through the association), this is achievable if the officials are put on their toes.

Also necessary is the putting in place of an information network that would enable citizens to report any breach of the law by any foreigner. (NACPDEAN shall follow up on this agency on this).

Another issue is the need to put in place a punishment for anybody caught violating the law. The punishment must be severe enough to serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders. (NACPDEAN shall do its best in this regard).

The following are equally very important:

1. Strengthening of quality control capabilities of the commodity associations through its apex body, the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN).

2. Technical support from academic institutions through research and development;

3. Extension services to farmers along with dissemination of relevant information;

4. Deliberately make farming lucrative through the availability of finance;

5. Incentives to encourage value addition of the commodities;

6. Putting in place policy guidelines for the development of commodity value chains

7. Integration and collaboration of all players in the value chain; etc.

We believe all these measures will make a big difference in enhancing the productivity of agricultural produce in Nigeria.