iProduce Africa to train agropreneurs, SMEs on export

iProduce Africa, an agribusiness hub sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), is to train Nigeria-owned agribusinesses and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on technical skills for produce export.

A statement by its Chief Executive Officer, Aisha Waziri Umar, stated that this is to integrate agri-business owners into global food value chains by acquainting them on ways to access finance, including non-interest funding, for their export activities as they take advantage of the government’s Zero-Oil Plan.

“Agribusiness exports present a significant opportunity for job creation to absorb the youth bulge and improve the livelihoods of young people who make up the majority of the population.

“We are forming partnerships with the relevant government ministries and agencies and I’m confident that iProduce will play a vital role in the diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

She added that the training workshop would hold on November 20, with experts educating participants on how they can tap into Nigeria’s non-interest banking windows to secure financing to export their commodities.

Since August 2021, when it has trained about 500 farmers on various areas of agribusiness including livestock, fruits and vegetables, garments, among others.

It has held several training workshops since inception and ‘iProduce Africa plans to train at least 1,000 agri-entrepreneurs in 2022 and back them with the relevant agribusiness advisory services.”