Impediments to crop exports - Inadequate Shipping
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 5:48 pm
Inadequate shipping threatens agriculture export
Inadequate shipping is threatening the agricultural export, the National Publicity Secretary,National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Sotonye Anga, has said.
He said though there was adequate shipping capacity to move other goods out of the ports, it was not so for agricultural produce, especially cashew export.
He reiterated that there was a misplaced belief that there is adequate shipping to meet the agriculture export.
Out of the ports, he added that there were inadequate facilities for cashew to be stored and shipped to avoid their contamination.
According to him, if substandard logistics adversely affects an export product, for example, contamination by hazardous substances in the same shipmentâit will likely be refused entry into abroad.
He explained that cashew export must reach the customer in a good condition as required and it is mandatory that the produce reaches the buyer at the time needed.
He explained that in most cases shipment out of Nigeria a does not meet those conditions.
Despite this challenge, the President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria(CAN), Sayina Rima, said there have been strong performances in export as operators make efforts to meet shipping schedule to avoid rejection.
He said cocoa exporters take three-month contracts to allow them enough time to ship the produce.
He said there was a need for more collaboration with agriculture to get more products for export.