By Rotimi Akinyemiju, PhD
It’s been about a year since we set out on an ambitious mission: to make Nigeria one of the leading exporters of yams. Many of you are probably wondering how the mission is progressing and are eager for an update. I wasn’t under any illusion when I made the commitment, and indeed, I am still committed to making this happen. I knew it was going to be a long, grinding process.
Breaking Down the Challenges
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To tackle this monumental task, we broke the process down into solving key problems. The first challenge was logistical: getting a container of fresh yam to the port within 48 hours of loading, given the poor supply chain infrastructure in Nigeria. This required strategic planning, coordination, and overcoming numerous hurdles.
The second challenge was regulatory: having the yams accepted by the USDA. Ensuring compliance with stringent international standards was no small feat. We had to navigate complex documentation, inspections, and regulatory requirements.
Finally, the third challenge was ensuring that the yams arrived in a marketable state before we could scale the operation. This meant maintaining the quality and freshness of the yams throughout the shipping process, from farm to market.
Milestones Achieved
I am happy to report that we’ve made significant progress. We’ve successfully imported a few containers of yams into the United States. One of the containers passed the United States Customs and Border Protection’s Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI), which means the first and second problems have been solved.
However, the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth. Most of the yams arrived damaged and were not of comparable quality to those we imported from Ghana. This setback highlighted an additional issue: equipment failure.
Identifying and Solving Issues
To transport yams successfully in a container, three critical components are necessary: appropriate temperature control, humidity control, and ventilation. We isolated the problem to a failure in these systems, which compromised the quality of the yams during transit.
After a thorough investigation, we’ve identified and fixed the problem. With the equipment issues resolved, 2025 promises to be a year of ramp-up and optimization as we start scaling our operations.
Collaboration and Team Efforts
A mission of this magnitude isn’t achieved in isolation. It requires collaboration and tireless effort from dedicated teams. A special shout-out goes to the Grimaldi and ACL teams in Nigeria, the UK, and the US for working tirelessly with us to make this dream a reality. Their support and expertise have been invaluable in overcoming the challenges we’ve faced.
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, we are more determined than ever to transform Nigeria’s yam export landscape. The lessons learned in the past year have equipped us with the knowledge and resilience needed to tackle future challenges. As we move into 2025, our focus will be on ramping up operations, optimizing processes, and ensuring that every shipment of yams meets the highest quality standards.
Impact on Nigeria’s Economy
This mission is not just about business success; it’s about contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth. By increasing yam exports, we aim to boost the agricultural sector, create jobs, and elevate Nigeria’s status on the global stage.
Conclusion
Stay tuned as we continue to work tirelessly toward achieving this goal. Be part of a transformation that will not only boost Nigeria’s economy but also highlight the incredible potential of our agricultural sector. Together, we can change the narrative and make Nigeria a key player in the global yam market.
