Following the disclosure of the Indian garri spotted in some Nigerian local stores, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has raided the supermarket in Ikoyi and has seized 26 packets of 500grams each of the product for analysis.
The product with no NAFDAC number is said to be from Ghana but packaged in the United Kingdom. NAFDAC has also invited the Supermarket’s management for questioning.
However, sectoral players have condemned the unfavorable market conditions experienced by farmers and agropreneurs in the country, and have called for government intervention.
Founder of Fresh Direct Produce and Agro-Allied Services, Angel Adelaja noted that the agricultural policies in the country are not favorable to local farmers. She explained that while other countries institute policies to favor their farmers, the case is however different in Nigeria
“The reason why you cannot export beef and dairy products to the Netherlands is because of the stark “Economics of Scale” which favors the local producer. Also, the regulatory structures in place regarding safety for their consumers will visit mayhem on you if flouted. Here in Nigeria, I say the blame lies with people we have allowed to run things for us”.
She also stressed the need for Nigerians to stand against the unfavorable modalities in the agricultural sector.
Commenting on this, Femi Okedare opined that foreign investors are more respected and favored than the local producers.
According to him, “Nigeria has been sold to the Indians and Chinese (Asians) by our government and regulatory agencies. The government welcomes these nationalities with open arms and they get away with anything in this country. They are all in our markets and farm gates buying off our produce with grants and cheap money received from their countries. They have easy access to foreign exchange. They are favored by our officials. One of them is representing Nigeria in Dubai Gulf Exhibition next week, the only company to occupy Nigeria’s stand”.
Speaking further, he said “for how long are we going to stand and watch helplessly as this people benefit greatly from our economy? One day we will wake up to find an Indian become the minister of finance or the CBN governor if we do not stitch this in time”.
Another stakeholder, Rotimi Ipinmoroti stated that such import activities could impede agricultural development in the country. He noted that some of these products were not safe for consumption, yet they managed to penetrate our market.
“We are not encouraging our industry to grow at all. Umudike and IITA should have better technology. Majority of these products come with pounds of chemicals that are injurious to health”, he said.
Lending credence to this position, Natural Nutrients boss, Sola Adeniyi, stated that though the product was sold at N450 per 500gram without NAFDAC number, no one could determine the moisture contents or the microbiological results of the brand.
Adeniyi however blamed Nigerians for encouraging the sale and distribution of imported goods in the country.
“Why blame the dumpers! When majority of Nigerians don’t and will never appreciate what we have, produced and packaged here. What they are after is imported goods and whether it is good or not, they are less concerned as long as it is not made in Nigeria”, he said.
Stakeholders agreed that Nigerians need to learn how to love, trust and appreciate the land’s produce. They added that if this is done there would be no need to patronize imported products like Indian garri.
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