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FG Calls on NOPPMAN to Boost Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange with Onion Flakes Production for Exportation
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has called on the National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria to start producing onion flakes for exportation, to boost the country’s foreign exchange.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amb. Nuru Rimi, made this call at the association’s 4th National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Rimi, who was represented by the Director of Commodities and Export, Mr. Kaura Irimiya, emphasized the importance of producing onion flakes for exportation.
“By starting to produce onion flakes, we can export them from this country. Whenever we travel abroad, we see people yearning to get some of these products. They prefer the ones coming from Nigeria due to their natural flavour.”
He also promised to collaborate with the association’s leadership to improve onion products packaging materials and branding, for wider acceptability.
“We need to work on that so our commodities are accepted wherever we go in the world,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary stressed the significance of exportation in boosting foreign exchange reserves, noting that the government is keen on reducing import levels, particularly regarding onion products.
In his goodwill message, the overseeing Director-General of the Raw Material Research and Development Council of Nigeria, Engr. Emmanuel Kwaya, commended the association for its efforts in increasing onion production in Nigeria over the past three years.
“From the data available to us, you have increased onion production from 244,000 metric tons in 2020 to about 1.5 million metric tons in 2022. Indeed, this is a tremendous progress,” he remarked.
He added that one of the major problems of onion farmers is the high rate of after harvest waste, which he promised to proffer solution to, by liaising with the Cameroonian Government to train members of NOPPMAN on low-cost post harvest storage technology.
Kwaya also mentioned the council’s support on improved storage facilities to reduce wastage and after harvest lose, and increase farmers’ benefits.
The overseeing DG was the Director of Agriculture and Agro-Allied Raw Materials Department, Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria, Abuja, Dr. Sab Ebirekwe, who added that the council has improved onions seed to be released to NOPPMAN as soon as a request is received from the association.
The national president of NOPPMAN, Hon. Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, who presided over the meeting, in his statements, commended his members for their supports and cooperation in the past years, and pledged his continuous selfless service to the organisation.
He informed that the association is partnering with some private sectors to set up onion processing plants in the country, and each of the companies would come with its own plant to compete in the Nigeria market and for exportation.
“NOPPMAN is partnering with some private companies like DAWIB Farm Ltd, DEMACK Nig. Ltd, AACE Foods, and SIM Kay Foods Ltd, to set up onion processing plants in the country, and each of the companies would come with its own plant to compete in the Nigeria market and for exportation,” he said, adding that very soon the association is going to launch a new brand of processed onion product.
Isah mentioned that currently, onion flakes are being produced in Lagos and Sokoto states.
“What is going on in Sokoto is very massive with an onion processing plant worth five billion US dollars, while Lagos is currently producing about 30,000 metric tons of onions flake, and this is just a start up.
“The company under construction in Sokoto, in due time, would produce 100,000 metric tons of onion powder per annum,” Isah said.
He added that the contribution of onion farmers, producers and marketers in boosting the economy of the country is very significant, because the total annual monetary value of onions produced, processed and marketed is about seven hundred billion naira.
Isah is calling on the government to assist the association in the areas of access to credit facilities and modern storage facility for farmers to store their onions, which will serve as raw materials for the onion processing companies to produce onions powder, thereby reducing post-harvest losses that has been a major problem for onion farmers.
“The government should consider sponsoring NOPPMAN with cottage modern storage system for our women to be empowered in the onion business, which will also help to reduce post harvest losses, and reduce rate of unemployment in the country,” he said.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, Mr. Damola Ige, in his comments, said NOPPMAN has been impacting its members since its formation, proffering solutions to challenges like transportation issues, dispute resolution, and protecting the interest of its members at all levels.
He said there is need for the government to support the association by providing storage facilities, funds, and transportation, for easy movement of the product, to prevent losses, especially due to theft during transportation from one place to another.
“We appeal to the government to help us with storage facilities where we can store our onions because they are perishable goods. If not stored properly, they will spoil and cause loses to farmers,” he said.
Part of the activities that took place during the NOPPMAN 2024 NEC was the appointments/election of new EXCO members to serve in a new term, for the next four years.
In this exercise, the association members unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the National President and his deputy, reelecting them and most of the EXCOs, to continue serving in their 2nd term, for the next four years.
The National President appreciated all the members and promised to keep doing his best for the good of NOPPMAN.
