Food security: Manufacturers seek import duty waiver on agro equipment

THE International Agro Original Equipment Manufacturers ( OEM) has called for the exemption of all agriculture equipment from all forms of taxes, import duties, Value Added Tax and other levies for at least two years to enable Nigeria to become self- sufficient in food production.

The Chairman of Eurobase Consulting Limited and Countr y Representative of 20 OEMS, Don Ekesiobi, argued that if Nigeria must achieve self- sufficiency in food production, the country must fully mechanise its agricultural sector and ensure farmers have access to equipment at a cheaper rate.

He added that prices of equipment have not changed at their original destinations but unfortunately, the tax levies, and import duties among others, made the equipment beyond the reach of farmers.

Ekesiobi, while speaking yesterday in Abuja at the Agriculture Mechanisation Expo with the theme: “Sustainable Food Security and Agro Produce Export through Mechanisation,” lamented that Nigeria was yet to become an investment destination as it used to be in the seventies and eighties.

Hence, he appealed that agro equipment, crop biostimulants, insecticides, crop water retention agents and other crop base food, should be exempted from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Council ( NAFDAC) registration fees including the imposed $ 11,000 for NAFDAC visit to parent company, which local company are forced to pay.

He emphasised that the bottlenecks must be removed for local investment to be revived, otherwise, investors will continue to move to other African countries, where such fees are like a taboo. He added that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON) should also exempt all agricultural equipment coming into the country from SONCAP fees.

Ekesiobi pointed out that China feeds 22 per cent of the world's population despite having seven per cent of arable land but Nigeria is unable to feed its citizens despite having 34 million hectares and earning only N1.23 trillion from exports.

He said France, on the other hand, has 28 million hectares of arable land and earns $ 68 billion from export, Netherlands’ arable lands are 4.15 hectares with $ 79.3 billion export, while Germany’s arable land is about 11.664 hectares with about $ 70.8 billion export.

Stressing the need to change the narrative, Ekesiobi harped on the need to adopt mechanisation and ramp up efforts to feed ourselves as well as target feeding 10 per cent of the world population.