The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has trained farmers in Akwa Ibom on ways to develop their products to match global standards and marketability.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr. Olawale Fasanya, made the disclosure during a 2-day capacity building programme on Products and Marketing Enhancement Scheme (PAMES) for farmers, Friday in Uyo.
Fasanya, represented by Mrs. Ime Andy, deputy director, agric business development and extension service department, noted that the agency discovered the problem through farmers’ lack of access to larger markets.
“Product and Market Enhancement Scheme (PAMES) is an initiative to help the farmers from the farm gate to the market regionally and globally.
“SMEDAN has seen that it has been a problem for agripreneurs to have market access, locally, regionally, and globally.
“We are here today to expose them to the ways that they can develop their products and enhance them to meet the global market standard.
“We brought in all the stakeholders that can make input into what SMEDAN is doing to ensure product development and market enhancement for SME sub-sector,” he said.
The SMEDAN boss noted that though the agency has not been mandated to give money, they will continue to facilitate farmers’ access to funds to help boost their businesses.
