Stakeholders in the onion subsector have said they decided to suspend onion supply to some parts of the country because of the series of attacks their members suffered in the past few weeks. In an exclusive interview with Daily Trust on Sunday in Abuja, the president of the National Onions Producers, Processors and Marketers Association […]
James Emejo in Abuja
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Mariam Katagum, has said the federal government is committed to supporting current efforts aimed at harnessing the immense potentials of the coconut commodity whose global market worth is estimated at over $6 billion.
She said the commodity has lot of economic, medicinal and nutritional value and enjoys huge market in the country.
The minister, at the inauguration of the 2021 coconut planting season in Abuja, however, expressed concern that despite its economic benefits, the current local supply could only meet about 20 per cent of demand.
She said there was the need to urgently address the supply side constraints to boost the economy.
Some farmers in the north have lamented the perishing of Onions in the region following the blockage of supply to the South. Recall that Onions Producers
The National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN) urged the FG to grant import waivers on coconut import, especially seeds, in a bid to generate N320 trillion for the economy annually.
This was disclosed by Mrs Okoroji Okechukwu, the President of the Association, as the 2021 coconut planting season, flagged off on Tuesday in Abuja.
The 2021 season, themed: ‘Actualising Coconut Sufficiency in Nigeria (COSIN): Planting Coconut trees with Economic, Health and Export Potentials’ is viewed by stakeholders as a catalyst towards the implantation success of the association’s six-year strategic plan of 2021-27, called ‘NACOPPMAN’s Cosin Project.’
embark on a nationwide strike over alleged illegal roadblocks and multiple taxations on its members.
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The union, in March, halted the movement of food supply to the south-west over similar allegations, including extortion of and attacks on members.
The action was suspended after the intervention of Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi.
Addressing journalists at the end of an emergency meeting on Tuesday, Muhammed Tahir, national president of the union, said after reviewing the issues, the union resolved to support onion traders who had commenced cutting supply to the southern part of the country owing to the same issues.
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