The Federal Government has said that it would partner Brazil to develop agricultural research in order to boost food production and productivity in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, who disclosed this recently in Abuja at a meeting with Brazil’s Trade Mission led by Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Joao Lima, said the ministry was also interested in learning from the school feeding programme of Brazil with about 40 million children daily to fortify a similar scheme in Nigeria.
Echono stated that the ministry was fascinated by the achievements of Brazil in rice production and productivity.
He said that rice was a staple crop in Nigeria with efforts been put in place to achieve self sufficiency in its production.
Nigeria, the permanent secretary said, would borrow ideas from Brazil to achieve that feat.
Other areas where both countries are expected to collaborate include cooperatives, rice milling equipment and agribusiness, among others.
The Executive Secretary of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Prof. Yusuf Abubakar, said there were 11 colleges of agriculture and 15 research institutes with a workforce of 10, 000 staff under the council.
He said the council has 1,800 scientists identifying capacity building as one of the major challenges facing the council.