NAPOGPMAN inaugurates first National executive board

By Nneka Nwogwugwu

The National Potato Growers, Processors and Marketing Association of Nigeria (NAPOGPMAN) has inaugurated its first National executive members.

The election which also came with immediate inauguration was held on Thursday in Abuja.

Daily Times reports that NAPOGPMAN was birthed after the dissolution of the Potato Growers, Processors and Marketing Association of Nigeria (POGPMAN) on 30 November, 2020. POGMAN was dissolved to introduce a new association with a more national outlook.

An interim National Executive Committee was constituted on 30th November,2020 by the Federal Ministry of Industry,Trade and Investment during a National Stakeholders meeting to pilot the affairs of the Association for three months with the mandate to conduct national elections, review constitution, among others.

A representative from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Ashasim Yakubu of Commodities and Export Department and representatives from the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike and Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN) witness the swearing in of the newly elected members of the National Executive Board.

Yakubu, during the inauguration, urged the newly elected officials to carry everybody along the value chain of potato.

He said, ‘’The election is free, fair and credible and that has been what we are expecting from them. I expect greater things from them. They should carry everybody along the value chain of potato because it is a task meant to serve their followers.

‘’The ministry is open for every commodity Association to assist them, facilitate their businesses, help them to get loans and to encourage them along the value chain.’’

Also in his remarks, the Head of Station, National Root Crop Research Institute Abuja Nyanya Outstation, Dr Innocent Nwokoma Onyekwere representing the Executive Director, Prof Joseph Ukpabi.Joseph

said, ‘’The election they conducted was free and fair. From the way it was done I think the leaders are going to have good followers.

He further advised the officials to establish good relationship with the Institute. ‘’If they can relate very well with our Institute, they are going to achieve a lot because the Institute has the national mandate to conduct research on production, processing, utilization and socioeconomics which marketing is an aspect of and Potato is part of Root and tuber crop.

‘’If they collaborate with us, we are going to give them the best varieties for yields, nutrition and we are going to seek a gateway to market their products and provide market channels for them.’’

The first elected National President, Mrs Christie Sunkur, who happens to be the first female to hold the position, expressed gratitude to the members of the Association for believing in her capabilities.

She said, ‘’I have personal reasons to be excited about today’s election. Having worked closely with the commodity department of the Trade and Industry Ministry in the last 2 and half months, has given me the ample opportunity to study our members.’’

In her address, she urged the government to respond immediately to the issues affecting farmers.

‘’This election comes at a time of national burning issues. The issues of food crises, farmers/herders crises, poor yield of farm produce, non-access to funds for farmers, lack of extension workers and poor market and middle men issues.

‘’The association is calling on government to provide more extension officers and give farmers a marketing board so that farmers will take their goods to the market and have good value for their money.

‘’Now we have to speak up as farmers. Farmers are being killed in their farms in fact they are driven away from their farms and animals have taken over their farm produce. We cannot keep quiet and that has created fear in the lives of our smallholder farmers.

‘’Farmers are the sources of food in Nigeria. The farmers depend on their representatives to lead them and this is the beginning of potato farmers representation and we will challenge whatever that is hindering our farmers.

Responding to the recent issue of food blockage to the South, she said, ‘’Potato farmers suffered severe losses. I earlier spoke to one potato marketer. He said he has a trailer of potatoes that he couldn’t sell. \

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We want the government to compensate farmers after the losses so that it won’t affect the forthcoming farming season.

‘’Nigeria is one of the largest producers of sweet potatoes in sub-Saharan Africa with a total production of 3.46 millions tons per year. It is important for food security. Sweet and Irish potato is the fourth most important crop in Nigeria after cassava and cocoyam.

Speaking further, she noted that, ‘’ NAPOGPMAN is a new association. Stakeholders and potato sellers came together after the existence of POGPMAN for more than 13 years.

But because of potato sellers and other stakeholders, the name was changed to National Potato Growers, Processors and Marketing Association of Nigeria (NAPOGPMAN) which is present in 774 Local government areas of Nigeria.

This is the first National executive election NAPOGPMAN and as the first president and also the first female president, I am representing the women of Nigeria, Nigeria women farmers, the smallholder women farmers in Africa.

Responding to the issue of handling food security in COVID-19 period, she said, ‘’You can grow potato in your backyards. You can use bags to grow potato anywhere. Even in times of crises in the farm you can grow potato. Potato is going to be a staple food in Nigeria.

‘’This year during the raining season we will do sensitization for farmers on different varieties of potato especially those with medicinal benefits.’’

Also, the National secretary, Dr Austine Maduka, who was the FCT Secretary of POGPMAN said that his position will ensure that the secretariat is running under the authority of the president.

‘’ I will also make sure that there is the dissemination of information to other executive officers,’’ he added.

Being a four year tenure, Dr Maduka explained the activities that will benefit potato farmers in Nigeria.

He said, ‘’We will make sure that awareness is being created to farmers. Some farmers allege that potatoes grow better in the North but with this awareness, people in the South will benefit and understand how to grow potatoes. It is a crop for all Nigerians.

‘’We also want to introduce new technologies to enhance potatoes production in Nigeria.’’

When asked the difference between the Potatoes Farmers Association of Nigeria (POFAN), he said, ‘’POFAN is chaired by Chief Daniel Okafor. We have different objectives but our common objective is to make sure Nigerian farmers benefit from the production of potatoes.

‘’POFAN is for farmers but they are primary producers under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

But in NAPOGPMAN, we are under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments and we have both the primary producers, secondary producers and then the end users (marketers), who bring products to the markets for consumption.’’

Other members of the Executives are: Mall Haruna Mohammed (National treasurer), Zhedog Chris Emmanuel (National Organising Secretary), Barr Raiu Ibrahim (National Legal Adviser), High Chief Dada (National Financial Secretary), Haj Aishatu Abdullahi (National Assistant Secreatry), Hon David Jamu (National Marketing Officer), Chief Nicholas Chibueze (National Deputy President), Adesiyah Azeez (National Auditor) Pastor Festus Okwada (National Publicity Secretary), Aderibigbe Isaac Taiwo, (Vice President North Central) , Ali Danladi (Vice president North East), Alh Shamsudeen Saraajo Wowo (Vice President North West), Mr Paul Njoku, (Vice President South East) Dr Elizabeth Oni (Vice President South West) and Nse Paulinus Tom (Vice President South South).