Experts task Lagos APPEALS beneficiaries on agro commodities packaging

Farmers have been urged to engage in market survey and other techniques before embarking on production of any commodity. The Agro-processing specialist, Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS), Mr. Adewale Alade, who disclosed this during a training organised by the project in Lagos, emphasised the need for marketing, branding and packaging of Nigeria’s agro commodities.

“Farmers should be able to know how and where to market, package and brand agro products. The project places so much emphasis on market because this process drives production. This training is to teach, encourage and expose beneficiaries to understand the processes,” he said.

The Training Manager for Africa Leadership Forum, Mr. Funsho Popoola, enjoined the farmers to improve the value-chain of their produce in order to increase their productivity.

He said the organisation is partnering APPEALS to build capacity for the agricultural value-chain players in Nigeria, adding that: “We do it in the Nigerian ecosystem making sure that they develop their capacity at production and that they also explore international markets.

“Last December, we offered training to key players in the agro-sector and it was mainly centred on exportation. This training was targeted at developing the capacity of these agriprenuers on sales and marketing because most farmers have difficulty in pushing their products out.

“We know the strategic importance of marketing when it comes to perishable agro-produce. If not sold on time they get bad and then the capital is lost. The loss of capital for the farmers is what we are trying to avoid by organising this workshop to let them know what they need to do to sell in good time so that they can go back to the farm and produce again.”

Deputy Director, Port Inspection Directorate, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Sadiq Yisfi, who lauded the initiative of the Lagos, also encouraged them to go through the right processes in exporting agro-produce.

“This is a laudable project from the World Bank; they want to make sure that farmers have improved livelihoods. The project concentrates on rice, poultry and aquaculture sectors. We have come to encourage farmers and help them build capacity to make their produce fit for exports.

“As NAFDAC, we have come to encourage the farmers on brand standard and packaging of our agro-produce. We want farmers to develop their produce and increase their profits. As part of the mandate in NAFDAC, our collaboration with APPEALS will help these farmers to the next level.”