AgroTrade Between Nigeria, Korea Increases

There are increasing indications of accrued request for cultivation commercialized and collaboration betwixt Nigeria and Korea.

Although indirect, the request for Korean cuisine and ingredients roseate successful 2024 with the Korea Culture Centre Nigeria’s (KCCN) instauration of the Hansik Contest. The contention not lone afforded young Nigerians who until past had lone seen Korean cuisines (Hansik) successful K-dramas the accidental to sensation Korean meals, but to triumph bully wealth retired of it.

With implicit 30 Hansik classes and 2 Hansik Contests to its belt, the centre has trained nonrecreational and upcoming chefs, amateur chefs and enthusiastic Nigerians connected however to marque assorted Jang-based (sauce/paste) Korean cuisines alongside the techniques to navigator them faster.

The information that the centre started retired importing astir of the products utilized successful the classes and present purchases astatine slightest 40 per cent of the ingredients locally is simply a testament to the quality 2 years of merchandise demands tin marque successful the market.

“The Hansik people is designed to exposure Nigerians to Korean nutrient and nutrient techniques.

The thought down the monthly people is not conscionable to exposure them to Korean nutrient and techniques, but thatch them to larn to usage nutrient recovered successful Nigeria to marque Korean food,” said Hansik people coordinator, Sharon Pwavi.

Nonetheless, overmuch needs to beryllium done betwixt the Nigerian government, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency – to heighten cultivation collaboration betwixt some countries and marque Korean ingredients disposable locally, either done import oregon by investing successful the cultivation accumulation of these ingredients.

Presently, young Nigerians enthusiastic astir Korean cuisines walk N15,000 to N20,000 to marque dishes similar ‘Gochujang Jjigae’, the Jang-based saccharine and spicy accepted Korean stew that featured successful the centre’s September Hansik class, which had 8 participants successful attendance.

“Finding authentic ingredients and making definite you get the close consistency erstwhile cooking Korean dishes are the main challenges of cooking Hansik present (Nigeria). We person not been capable to tackle that,” said UI Designer, Esther, who participated successful the Hansik contention past year.

Automation Engineer, Chizaram admitted that the gully of Hansik is its health-based ingredients – which consists of tons of vegetables, fermented nutrient and sauces (Jang).

“I person made Gimbap and Kimchi Bibimpap astatine home. We are utilizing substitute ingredients but it doesn’t sensation the aforesaid arsenic the archetypal Korean cuisine would. It would beryllium bully to person much supermarkets banal Korean ingredients and a Korean edifice successful Abuja wherever 1 tin person Korean food.”

There is besides the substance of cost. “Korean meals are not truly affordable. We person to transport ourselves to the circumstantial supermarket that sells the Korean ingredients to bargain them. It would outgo N15,000 to marque ‘Gochujang Jjigae’ connected my own, if I don’t person Gochujang, and Gochujang is astir N9000” said nail technician, Francisca.

Notwithstanding, the outgo seems worthy it compared to however steadfast and tasty Korean foods are. Likewise, the accidental it presents 1 to get a antithetic position of what whitethorn look akin but are vastly different.

As a stew, Gochujang Jjigae requires nary frying – and consists of potatoes, zucchini, garlic, tofu, soy lipid and Gochujang. “This is not the aforesaid arsenic what we usage successful Nigerian stew wherever you fry tomatoes, capsicum and bulb together, and usage bullion cubes (MSG). You don’t request the second successful Korean food. So, it is simply a mode to spot a antithetic mode of cooking than what you are acquainted with. I deliberation Nigerians volition find it absorbing due to the fact that they volition recognize that you tin navigator definite dishes without definite condiments we are utilized to, and it inactive comes retired flavourful,” said Hansik Class Coordinator, Sharon Pwavi.

While things whitethorn beryllium dilatory and difficult, Pwavi believes that advancement is being made. “You tin find Ramyeon (a benignant of Asian noodle) successful a batch of supermarkets now, that is beneath N5000. You tin besides find Korean fried chicken, which is the apical selling nutrient successful stores now. It looks dilatory but the information is that advancement is being made.

“Nigerians are precise concern and collaborative by nature. With the acquisition happening successful the halfway – which is KCCN’s focus, with the effort of KOTRA – which promotes commercialized betwixt countries, and passionate Nigerians, we are seeing changes,” concluded Pwavi.