AFRICA READY TO IMPORT CEREALS FROM ESTONIA

ERR News on news.err.ee/1608712939/large-part-of-estonian-cereals-harvest-exported-to-africa reports that Africa and Nigeria in particular could be the major importers of cereals, especially wheat from Estonia. Estonia is barely 1.4M people in population, it is a small country in Northern Europe with  a total area of 45,339 square kilometres (17,505 sq mi) only, the capital is called Tallin. Today the country is ranked among the developed countries with very high Human Development Index.

Last year the country exported some 433,000 tons of wheat worth  106 Million Euro, equivalent of 46.75 Billion Naira, and some 218,000 tons of barley worth 47M Euro, equivalent of 20.73 Billion Naira. Estonia gained this tremendous leap in export after last year  invasion of Ukraine by Russia as that created  unprecedented  shift to   Estonia for supply of cereals. Indrek Aigro, head of cereals trade at Copenhagen Merchants, said: “Estonian wheat exports will go toward human food rather than animal feed this year. The quality of wheat is good enough. Most of our grain exports will go to Africa. We can see Nigeria dominating, but Mauritania, Senegal and Angola are also there. Estonian barley will go to north Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) or Saudi Arabia,”

What to learn from Estonia:

Estonia introduced structural changes in agriculture; the changes began in the 1990s with investments that rely on supportive regulatory environment and sincerity in modernization of the country’s agriculture. Elimination of environmental pressure and increased public research by research institutions in the country have come together to build strong agricultural growth in the country.

Estonia relies on efficient bureaucracy, maintains high degree of economic freedom and  a working rule of law. The country has impressive investment in education, technology and directs principal focus in providing quality services to its citizens.