FG tasks pepper producers on enhanced value chain

The Permanent Secretary federal ministry of Trade and Investment, Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo, has called on the new executive committee of National Association of Pepper Producers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria ( NAPPPMAN) to explore the potentials in the global market through enhanced value chain.

Speaking while inaugurating the new executive committee of the association in Abuja, Dr Gwarzo said producers can make more returns on their investment by adopting new trends in the sector.

“How many value chains of pepper do we have in Nigerian markets that are being produced by Nigerians producers and processors?

In fact, it is only the raw pepper but when you go to an average supermarket in Europe, you will find raw and powdered pepper. Today, we will reluctantly accept the raw pepper that you brought but next year, come with ten value chains of pepper,” he noted.

The president of the association Mahmoud Mahmoud said that Nigeria has not been able to optimize its potentials to explore the global market of pepper as a single commodity that contributes to the GDP of countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil and others.

“We are poised to encourage and support players in the value chain to adopt global best practices in packaging and processing of the commodity,” he promised.