A $1.2 million standards trade development facility was officially opened by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Nigeria with the goal of strengthening food safety standards and improving trade capacities.
The worldwide program seeks to support developing nations like Nigeria in enhancing food safety and guaranteeing the wellbeing of animals and plants by implementing best practices.
The WTO’s Director General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, emphasized Nigeria’s enormous potential for the production and export of cowpea and sesame during the inaugural event on Tuesday. But she also brought attention to a major obstacle the nation faces: the ongoing rejection of the goods as a result of difficulties with storage and transportation, both locally and internationally.
Nigeria, widely recognized as Africa’s third-largest producer of sesame, with an output of over 500 metric tonnes in 2022.
The nation also produces more than 5.2 million metric tonnes of dried cowpeas annually.
In order to address the issues, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the critical role that the recently constructed facility plays. The facility seeks to give Nigerian farmers the tools they need to develop agricultural goods that meet international export standards by offering opportunities for capacity-building.
The program has the potential to improve food safety protocols while simultaneously strengthening Nigeria’s standing in the international agricultural market, hence promoting economic expansion and sustainability.