In June, Nigeria started exporting yam to Europe and the United States, as part of its move to curb its addiction to oil.
The government believes that yam exports will generate some six billion dollars every year, and create thousands of new jobs, helping diversify the economy.
But things are not that simple. Though Nigeria is the biggest yam producer in the world, an estimated 30 percent of the production rots away. The country lacks good storage facilities, the transportation system is very poor, and local traders and exporters are struggling.
Prince Vincent Yandev, yam exporter:
“I’d be able to export, like, 76 tonnes of yams to the US. The major challenges have been the funding so if the government can encourage banks to assist us, I think it would be better for us.”
Just over 200 metric tonnes of yam have been exported to Europe and America since the scheme was launched in June. The government wants yam and other agricultural products to replace oil as the mainstay of the economy. But there are also concerns that massive export of yams, would lead to higher prices, hitting the poor.
While the Nigerian government says exporting the country's yam to Europe and America is a big economic opportunity, many observers say the country has a long way to go in achieving the objective.
尼日利亚已于2017年6月起开始向欧洲及美国出口山药，这是用来抑制该国对石油出口依赖的举措之一。
尼日利亚政府认为，出口山药将给该国带来年60亿美元左右的收益，并创造上千个新的就业机会，从而帮助该国的经济体制变得更加多元。
然而，事情并非那样简单。虽然尼日利亚是全球最大的山药生产国，但是约有30%的产量会烂掉。该国缺少良好的储存设施，其交通运输系统也很差，因此当地的交易商和出口商们都在艰难求生。
普林斯·文森特·杨得夫 山药出口商
“这样一来，我就能向美国出口约76吨的山药。我面临的最大挑战是资金，所以，政府要是能鼓励银行资助我们的话，情况就能好一些。”
自该计划于6月启动以来，出口到欧洲及美国的山药总量已超过200公吨（20万千克）。尼日利亚政府希望用山药及其它农产品来代替石油成为该国的经济支柱。但也有人担忧，大量出口山药将抬升其价格，从而给穷人造成打击。
虽然尼日利亚政府称向欧洲及美国出口本国山药的举措会带来巨大的商机，但有很多观察者说要想达到目标，该国还有漫长的路要走。
词汇
exporting
出口
generate
产生，带来
diversify
使…多样化
funding
资金
mainstay
主要依靠，支柱
你知道吗？
Yams are so important that many west African countries have a yam festival. The Iwa ji festival, literally means ‘The New Yam Festival’. Last year’s yams are discarded because the new year must begin with fresh ones.
对于一些地区来说，山药是一种非常重要的农产品，很多西非国家甚至有举办山药节的习俗。The Iwa ji “新山药节”就是一个有名的节日。在这个节日中，上一年的山药会被丢掉，这是因为新年必须以新山药开始。
问题答案
A lack of good storage facilities and a poor transportation system mean that 30% of the yam production rots away.
