Nigeria’s revenue from fresh farm produce exports could surpass oil earnings over the next decade the minister of aviation was quoted saying by a Daily Trust report on AllAfrica.

The west African nation is the leading oil producer on the continent, but progressive farming policies in recent years have improved it agricultural prospects.

Small scale farmers constituted over 85 percent of Nigeria’s workforce and an improvement in earnings for the sector will eliminate poverty in the country by 60 percent.

Stella Oduah, the minister of aviation, said that government would ensure that produce quality was achieved in order to meet the standard of international consumers in Europe, US and other parts of the world, adding that some countries have already indicated their interest to buy Nigeria’s farm produce.

The minister assured that the 14 perishable cargo terminals were in various stages of completion and should deliver the first fresh produce to local supermarkets and international markets before the end of this year.

“Various private investors and state governments have expressed readiness to take advantage of the programme and contact the relevant authorities for permissions to establish Export Processing Zones or Free Economic Zones at the terminals,” the Daily Trust quoted the minister saying.

Spokesman of Aviation Parastatals, Yakubu Dati further explained that the abundance of and varieties of fresh produce in Nigeria and the growing economic importance of the sector, which stands at US$ 1.53 billion (N245 billion) ,has necessitated the development of 14 Perishable Cargo Terminals in Nigeria.

He noted that the perishable export cargo programme would utilize open field cultivation for the fresh produce, as farmers would be able to transport their products to collection centers in the states, while refrigerated trucks would deliver the products to the primary airport hubs.

“These collection centres are part of the farming skills centres in each of the state with the perishable cargo terminals. The fresh produce would find its way to local farmers markets or be exported to supermarkets in EU, USA or the Middle East where off-takers would have made pre-arranged inspections and processes for the produce,” Dati said.