- March 22, 2023
- Posted by: AITRC 2
- Categories: News, Events, Blog, Report
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| A new report titled: Value Chain Analysis of Nigeria Ginger and Shea Butter as Potential Geographical Indications (GIs) Products under the Zero-Oil Plan of the Government of Nigeria” has been released by the Africa International Trade & Commerce Research (AITCR), in partnership with Nigerian Export Promotion Council. The Zero-Oil Plan is a Nigerian government initiative aimed at diversifying the country’s economy away from oil and towards non-oil exports. The report identifies ginger and shea butter as two potential GIs products that can contribute significantly to this plan. GIs is a mark that identifies products originating from a specific geographic location which possess unique qualities or reputations due to their geographical origin. The report highlights the potential of Nigeria’s ginger and shea butter as geographical indications (GIs) products and analyses their value chains and market access opportunities. The report analyses key stakeholders, including farmers, processors, traders, exporters, and regulatory bodies. It also examines the market access for these products, including the potential for export to international markets. The report presented an analysis of the market potential, value chain dynamics, economic status, and market access requirements for Nigerian ginger and shea butter as geographical indication (GI) products. The report also found that Nigeria’s ginger and shea butter have high potential as GI products due to their unique characteristics and reputation. However, there are several challenges that could hinder the successful implementation of this initiative. The challenges include poor infrastructure, inadequate funding, lack of awareness of the benefits of GI certification among producers and stakeholders, quality concerns and standardisation of the products, enhancing the value chain, and addressing regulatory and policy issues. The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the NEPC and AITCR, is committed to supporting the development of Nigeria ginger and shea butter as GI products by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and market access support. This will enable Nigeria to diversify its non-oil exports, create jobs, and enhance its foreign exchange earnings. It also provided recommendations to the government for developing effective strategies to promote these products in international markets, which can significantly enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s non-oil exports. According to Mr. Sand Mba-Kalu, the Executive Director of AITCR, the report provides valuable insights into the potential of Nigeria’s ginger and shea butter as Geographical Indication (GI) products. He highlighted that the report would assist stakeholders in devising strategies to improve these products’ value chains and market access. Mr. Mba-Kalu also expressed AITCR’s commitment to supporting the development of these products and promoting their export to international markets as part of the Zero-Oil Plan. Furthermore, he emphasised that the findings of the report indicate that Nigeria’s ginger and shea butter have significant market potential in various international markets, such as Europe, the United States, and Asia. The analysis also revealed that these products possess unique qualities and characteristics closely tied to their origin and traditional production methods, making them well-suited for GI registration. The Value Chain Analysis of Nigeria’s Ginger and Shea Butter as Potential Geographical Indication Products report, which is part of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Zero-Oil Plan, marks a significant step towards advancing Nigeria’s non-oil exports. Dr Ezra Yakusak, the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, stated that registering Nigeria’s ginger and shea butter under the GIs system would safeguard these unique Nigerian traditional products against imitation and misuse, and their value will increase in international markets. He further said this initiative would offer opportunities for smallholder farmers and rural communities engaged in producing these goods to access better prices and earn more income. The Federal Government urges all stakeholders to lend their support to this initiative and collaborate towards promoting these products as GI products. |
AITCR TEAM AND THE PARTICIPANTS
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AFRICA INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND COMMERCE RESEARCH AND ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS DURING THE WORKSHOP
