The Nigerian government said Tuesday in Lagos that the west African country has entered trade agreements with China, South Africa and Botswana as targets for its cassava export for boosting non-oil sector earnings.

Nigeria produces 120,000 tons of cassava annually, out of which 5,000 tons have been billed for export to China. The country hopes to realize 5 billion naira (about 38 million US dollars) from cassava export every year.

"Though the local demand is competing with export, international trade on the product offers a great opportunity to diversify the nation's income and create employment to Nigerians," G. M. Sasore, chief executive officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said, adding the export is planned to commence before the end of the first quarter of this year.

Only 10 percent Nigerian foreign exchange earnings are derived from the non-oil sector.

The official, who was making a closing remark at the end of two-day Consultative Seminar on National Export Strategy for Africa's top oil producer, said incentives would be given to farmers and traders to facilitate non-oil export.

The seminar put together by the NEPC in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London examined export product options available to Nigeria including cassava. It also laid the foundation for the preparation of an export strategy document for the west African country.

Sasore, who is also the special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on export matters, said cassava would be built into the nation's export strategy, adding that 35 million dollars had been provided by the nation's Nigerian Export Import Bank to boost the production of cassava chips.

Source: Xinhua