Exporting yam: Intricacies explored at exporters’ workshop

With millions of Africans living in other continents, there is a growing demand for African foods in these countries and exporting items such as yam tubers is a very profitable business.

But international best practices, which entail choosing the appropriate yam tubers, preparing the tubers, packaging in specially designed boxes, and arrangement in pallets, fumigation, air and shipping methods must be followed carefully. A lack of understanding of these intricacies could result in losses to the exporter. Therefore, Frijay Consult, an agro export firm in Nigeria, with other experts, had a workshop recently specifically on yam export with foray into export of other perishables such as vegetables, fruits and pepper.

The main consultant was Edward Mensah of Integrity International Cargo Limited Ghana in conjunction with Frijay Consult Ltd. KSP Shipping Logistics, Lagos, and the National Agricultural Quarantine Service were handy to offer useful advices. There was support from Dorothy Mato of Benue State House of Assembly and M. Aluko of United States Agency for International Development USAID-NEXTT Nigeria, in seeing the programme through.

The issues explored were types of yams and shapes best suited for exports, causes of spoilage or deterioration in transit and how to guard against them. Also explored were the various world acceptable growing methods and certifications required for yam export. Certifications such as ‘GAP,’ GSC and Certificate of origin are prime requirements for ensuring unhindered yam export to any major market in the world. The National Holding Company (NAHCO) at the airport also plays a role in the export of yams from Nigeria.

The most common destinations for yam export currently are the United States of America, Europe and South Africa, which though in Africa is also a developed country. The usual freight method is by air and sea.

According to the organisers, airlines such as Jordanian Airline, DHL Cargo Air, and others, are expected to have strong collaboration with food exporters. Grimaldi Shipping Company and Maersk Line in Nigeria are known sea freighters by these experts at the moment. The participants were mainly entrepreneurs with interest in food export business, with a few from the public sector and three delegates from Benue State, Nigeria.