Nigeria and China have resolved to partner in the overall development of agricultural sector in the country. Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has stated its readiness to partner with the Chinese government, while receiving the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Sonny Echono who received the Ambassador, thanked the Chinese Government for their support in the past, saying the development model of China best suited Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda to commercial agriculture. Echono explained that Nigeria was working to improve her milling capacity in rice and cassava to reduce the current demand and supply.
A statement by the Director of Information in the FMARD, Tony Ohaeri, stated that Nigeria needed support in the establishment of ranches, poultry and textile industry. Therefore, he invited Chinese investors to come and invest in the sectors.
According to Daily Independent, the Permanent Secretary identified infrastructural development as another area the Chinese investors should come in and invest, saying Nigeria was working hard towards increasing productivity, hence the need to develop the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs). He disclosed that partnership discussion was on-going with some Research Institutions in China in the area of Technology.
Echono said China has a huge market in cassava chips, hence the need to support Nigeria’s cassava production, saying Nigeria is the world producer of cassava. According to him, other opportunities for investment include Aqua-culture, fishery production and wheat production so as to be able to meet the demands of the local millers. The Permanent Secretary also requested for support in capacity building, egg powder production and transfer of technology, while also adding the need to manufacture simple technological tools that are reliable to make farming less labourious.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie expressed the readiness of the Chinese Government to work closely with the Government of Nigeria to explore areas of cooperation since both have big population and markets. Xiaojie suggested the creation of platforms for commercial farmers and technological companies to meet to know the areas of needs so as to meet their individual needs. He pledged the Chinese Government’s readiness to co-operate with Nigeria in the area of Technology, economy and anti-corruption.
