The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), has commenced the training of farmers in Ainu/Oju Local Government Area, Benue State on good agricultural practices for export trade. The agency in a report at the weekend by the Dr. Gozie Nwodo, said it has identified the need to ensure farmers are properly guided on proper production technique from farm to fork. The training workshop which took place Methodist Church Edawu Center, is part of its mandate especially with the massive campaign by the government for a return to agricultural production in order to earn foreign exchange and diversifying the economy. NAQS has the mandate of protecting Nigeria’s agricultural economy from incursion by dangerous pests and diseases, whilst ensuring the promotion of international trade of agricultural commodities. Taking the farmers through the rudiments of GAP for export trade during the training the NAQS Plant Pathologist, Dr. Solomon Sunday, said producing for the local market is one thing, and production for international trade is a totally different ball game.
“This is why NAQS regularly takes her enlightenment efforts to the hinterlands, where most of the rural farming communities are resident, to train them on Good Agricultural Practices for Export Trade. “The agency had identified the need to ensure farmers are properly guided in their production right from “farm to fork. “One of such farming communities is Ainu in Oju LGA of Benue state, Nigeria a serene and hospitable agrarian town. Oju was identified for its potential for massive agricultural export trade,” the report stated. After the training, the pilot cooperative groups were given some take-off support from the agency with a promise to follow up on their progress for continual guidance.
