Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC) has kicked start its second phase program for the development of Shea butter value chain among farmers in Benue state.

About one hundred farmers were engaged in the sensitizations and capacity programme on improving the farmers' adherence to good agriculture practices mostly in picking nuts, nut processing and storage among others.

The Trader Advisor and Head of Nigerian Export Promotion Council Makurdi export assistance, Mr Anani Ben Egon, disclosed this during the training in Makurdi, where he said most farmers are ignorant of Shea butter.

He noted that with this training, the improvement will integrate small farm holding processors into global export markets.

Meanwhile, the executive director and chief executive Officer of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, who represented by Christian Elekwa, said the programme is aimed at zero oil plan so as to have another alternative to oil for export.

Other facilitators also contributed to the programme also spoke in Tiv language.