<p>Nigerian Export Promotion Council, (NEPC) has called on producers of agro-products in Nigeria to think more of processing their products here to add value, rather than exporting them as raw materials.Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer NEPC made the call at a special capacity building workshop for cashew processors in Enugu organised by NEPC for cashew farmers in Enugu.</p> <p>Awolowo pointed out that a nation that is aspiring to diversify it’s earning and grow it’s economy should not be depending on oil assets alone, but should change her attitude towards adding value to non – oil Export products aimed at increasing the gains of non-oil export through value addition.According to the Chief executive who was represented by Mathew Iranloye, a director In NEPC “the council in her efforts at accelerating the federal Government’s agenda on government ‘s revenue diversification introduced a policy thrust zero oil plan.”</p> <p>He said the non-oil export revolution campaign is designed to bring a future economy where Nigerian would be able to survive even at zero Export of crude oil.The strategy to actualize the dream, he said based on a policy thrust of one state one product the state has comparative advantage in producing and marketing same through selected off-takers.</p> <p>“NEPC has taken practical steps at engaging the 36 State government through their respective ministry of Commerce and industry, towards kick – starting the process and not less than 16 States have constituted their members of SCEP into the required subcommittee and have commenced work on product and the processes of picking off-takers for a coordinated production and marketing “he said. Pointing out that concerned efforts in that direction by stakeholders in the pursuit of non-oil export strategy could result to large earnings from non-oil export.</p> <p>He assured the producers that government at all levels are working to ensure that the problems associated with poor quality such as discounted pricing and out right rejects is curtailed, and as a result the federal government has set up a committee to set up quality parameters for agro-products.Declaring the workshop open the Enugu State commissioner for Commerce and industry, Sam Nwobodo represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry Moses Otiji said that the state has decided to assist any cashew farmer in her capacity to grow and process the product.He challenged the participants at the workshop to key into the teachings to enable them save costs and waists during Export transactions.</p> <p>Resource persons at the event talked-about best methods to get the best quality of cashew for export. One of the presenters, Ozoh H. N spoke extensively on economics and technology of cashew processing in Nigeria while others talked about access to fund and the need to form cooperative societies and it’s management as a tool for structured cashew processing and marketing.</p> <p>By</p> <p>Ag. Editor</p>