Nigeria to start importing Yam Soon.
Umakihe, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), warned that Nigerians might soon resort to importing yam from China for local consumption. He expressed his concern during a stakeholders workshop on promoting yam as an export crop. Despite Nigeria being a major yam producer, accounting for 67% of global output, Umakihe lamented the country’s absence from the list of yam-exporting nations. He feared that with China entering the yam export market and Nigerians’ preference for imported goods, Chinese yam might soon dominate Nigerian kitchens. This trend could exacerbate unemployment and reduce income for local yam farmers.
Umakihe recounted Nigeria’s unsuccessful attempts at yam exportation, mentioning Nasarawa and Oyo States’ efforts in 2009. He criticized the Ministry’s poorly handled yam export revival in 2017, initiated under former Minister Chief Audu Ogbeh. He stressed the importance of identifying past failures and finding solutions to improve yam export prospects in Nigeria.
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