Nigeria and Bangladesh are to collaborate in the area of agro-farming as a way of boosting bilateral relations and enhancing self-sufficiency in food production and job creation.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, represented by Director Special Duties Mrs. Fausat Lawal, spoke in Abuja during a workshop theme: ‘’Promoting Agric- Farming for the Trade and Investments to Promote Sustainable and inclusive Development; Opportunities for Nigeria and Bangladesh.’
The Permanent Secretary stated that the agricultural sector plays vital role in the overall economic performance of both countries which is geared towards promoting market of agro-products and establishment of linkages with the global agro-supply chain.
He pointed out that agriculture holds great potentials for Nigeria’s economic development, along with crude oil, emphasizing that Nigeria relies on agricultural products it exports to generate one of its national revenue.
Dr. Umakhihe stressed that the sector enjoys many potentials that include relatively abundant arable land for crop cultivation, adding that the country’s population represents a large domestic market that could support and sustain local production and processing.
He therefore highlighted that the current global food crisis and long-standing challenges of the agricultural sector have made it clear that more investment is needed in Nigeria’s sector.
“It is on the record that the impacts of climate change, insecurity, Covid-19 Pandemic and Russia-Ukraine Conflict have had an adverse effect on agricultural production in Nigeria and Africa generally,” the Permanent Secretary added.
In his remarks, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Masudur Rahman pointed out that Bangladesh is predominantly an agricultural country where the government has played proactive role in accelerating the economic growth.
He noted that agriculture sector has been given the highest priority to make it self-sufficient in food production and security, adding that Bangladesh government was determined to develop the overall agricultural sector by aligning the goals set out with their plans such as the National Agricultural Policy 2018, National Food Policy and Sustainable Development Goals programme being implemented to improve the economy.
The National President, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Dele Oye, represented by Alhaji Farouk Suleiman, disclosed that the objective was to create an avenue for exchange of ideas and establish trade partnerships that would drive mutual prosperity and sustainable development.
He pointed out that there were enormous opportunities for promoting agro farming and sustainability between both countries noting that Nigeria and Bangladesh have abundance of raw materials that can support the development of agribusiness.
He therefore emphasized that despite the opportunities for agro-farming and business in both countries, the challenges in infrastructure, financing and regulation should be addressed.