The Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has said that insecurity is hindering grape farming at the Mambilla Plateau region of Nigeria.
Engr Mansur Ahmed, PAMA President, expressed the concerns during a webinar themed “Aligning Raw Material Sourcing, Industrial Standards, and Trade Intelligence for Africa’s Manufacturing Growth Under AfCFTA.”
Mansur Ahmed raised the concerns about insecurity affecting local sourcing, citing examples like grape farming in Nigeria’s Mambilla Plateau.
He called for decisive government action to ensure farmer safety and facilitate the seamless flow of raw materials from farms to industry.Attended by participants from across the continent, the virtual session tackled critical barriers to Africa’s industrial growth and explored actionable strategies to leverage under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
The Director-General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Nigeria, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, in his presentation stressed the importance of local content policies, advocating for infrastructure development, tax incentives, and a raw material management information system to boost local sourcing.
Prof Intentions referenced RMRDC’s recommendation of a 30% value addition requirement before export, while Mrs. Osman emphasised the need for a mindset shift and better cross-sector coordination to address implementation gaps.
Also, the Director of Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism at the African Union Commission, Ethiopia, Mrs. Ron Osman, outlined strategies to enhance raw material processing, including sustainable sourcing of raw materials, harmonised standards via the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI), and leveraging the Africa Trade Observatory for market data.
She underscored the AU’s SME Strategy and initiatives like the single-digit interest loan in Nigeria to support small businesses.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Dalhatu, National President of the Grape Farmers Association of Nigeria, revealed that Kaduna State is Nigeria’s leading hub for grape cultivation, contributing a remarkable 85% of the country’s total production.
During a visit to a 5-hectare vineyard in Kudan Local Government Area, Mr. Dalhatu highlighted the region’s impressive output, with approximately 22 metric tonnes harvested in January alone.
“A single section of a grape tree can yield 15 kilograms of fruit in its first year, increasing to 85 kilograms in subsequent years.
With a lifespan of up to 50 years and biannual harvests, grape farming in Kudan is a lucrative long-term investment,” he explained.
He further emphasized that the area’s fertile soil and favorable climate are key factors driving this success.
“When stored properly, a bunch of grapes can remain fresh for 45–50 days,” he added.
