The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has been urged to sensitise farmers on the type of crops to cultivate and how to properly package them for export.
The Managing Director of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr Olu Owolabi, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.
Owolabi noted that there had been increase in exportation of farm produce in recent times, adding that proper packaging of the produce would prevent them from becoming rotten in transit.
According to him, packaging companies in the country must intensify efforts in packaging of farm produce.
He said there was also need for the government to create a common warehouse for farmers to evacuate their farm produce.
Owolabi, therefore, called on the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to build locations for cargo pickups for onward movement to farmers.
The SAHCOL boss appealed to agents at the airports not to frustrate exporters with the introduction of different forms of levies which could create bottle-necks.
He noted that foreign airlines had been landing in the country with heavy tonnages while they go back empty, stressing that exporters should take advantage of the situation to better their businesses.
Owolabi also decried the high tariffs on imports which according to him had remained the greatest challenge in cargo handling.
He called on the government to urgently address the situation in order save the handling companies from collapse especially with the high rate of foreign exchange that had affected imports and exports. (NAN
