By Stanley Nwanosike
Nsukka – The Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NSCCIMA) says it is seeking international market to sell Nsukka specie of pepper.
The yellowish Nsukka-pepper is spicy pepper which adds flavour to both local and national delicacies, especially in soup and stew.
Dr Basil Onugu, the President of NSCCIMA, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Nsukka at the ongoing 1st Nsukka Trade Fair, 2016.
Onugu said that the chamber planned to partner with local farmers in the six council areas in Enugu North Senatorial zone to produce Nsukka-pepper in large quantities for export.
“The chamber is seeking ways to get our Nsukka-pepper specie to overseas, especially to Nigerian communities in UK, Island, U.S, Canada, Spain, Italy, Dubai and South Africa, among others.
“We are confident that any market or locality that the Nsukka-pepper gets into, it would be the most preferred among other pepper species and even other spices,’’ he said.
He also said that the chamber was already talking with a private indigenous enterprise to package local oil beans to make them attractive.
“The health benefits of our local oil bean can never be over-emphasised.
“Little wonder one of our local entrepreneurs met the chamber on ways to expand and improve the packaging of this product,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the yellowish Nsukka-pepper can also be ideal for food garnishing in restaurants and hotels.
The theme of the ongoing fair is: “Promoting Small and Medium Enterprises Scheme (SMES) and Agriculture for National Economic Recovery’’.