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| Stakeholders and Nigeria Agribusiness Group and Netherlands Topsector Agrofoods recently in Lagos. |
As part of efforts towards the successful return of
Nigeria’s agriculture into the mainstream as a major source of national
revenue, several efforts have been put in place by stakeholders towards
that direction. One of those laudable efforts was the signing of a
memorandum of understanding between the Nigeria Agribusiness Group and
Netherlands Topsector Agrofoods recently in Lagos.
The agreement which was part of the activities at the recently concluded 4th European Union Business Forum which held in Lagos was facilitated by a group known as The Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).
The areas of interest as enumerated by the chairman of NABG and Group Vice President Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote include the provision of a platform for private sector cooperation between the Nigerian and Dutch agricultural and food industries, provision of an advisory platform for governmental policies in food security, economic diversification and bilateral agricultural relations, cooperation in improving production, the value chains in specific agricultural produce, food processing and export policies, among others.
Specific emphasis on horticulture, cassava, fish farming, rice and dairy, to discuss policies and action to improve agrologistics including but not limited to dialogue between relevant Dutch and Nigerian players about cold storage, to provide a framework for export improvement in cooperation between NABG, RVO/CBI, and the NEPC. This may include dialogue about export policies at Nigerian, Dutch and EU-ECOWAS levels, to discuss and advice on how to improve research institutes and programmes in Nigeria.
The governmental facilitators include The Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development of the Republic of Nigeria, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
In his remarks, The Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Nigeria, John Groffen applauded the growing market for Nigeria’s agricultural products globally but lamented its suppression by the nation’s dependency on oil. He therefore urged the stakeholders to key into the window period of the spotlight on agriculture and revive its lost glory.
The consensus was a prospective bright future for both countries as the mutual benefits would help the development of both countries. There was also a call on the present administration not to discard laudable policies but to harmonize them into a better and more rewarding one.
The agreement which was part of the activities at the recently concluded 4th European Union Business Forum which held in Lagos was facilitated by a group known as The Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).
The areas of interest as enumerated by the chairman of NABG and Group Vice President Dangote Group, Alhaji Sani Dangote include the provision of a platform for private sector cooperation between the Nigerian and Dutch agricultural and food industries, provision of an advisory platform for governmental policies in food security, economic diversification and bilateral agricultural relations, cooperation in improving production, the value chains in specific agricultural produce, food processing and export policies, among others.
Specific emphasis on horticulture, cassava, fish farming, rice and dairy, to discuss policies and action to improve agrologistics including but not limited to dialogue between relevant Dutch and Nigerian players about cold storage, to provide a framework for export improvement in cooperation between NABG, RVO/CBI, and the NEPC. This may include dialogue about export policies at Nigerian, Dutch and EU-ECOWAS levels, to discuss and advice on how to improve research institutes and programmes in Nigeria.
The governmental facilitators include The Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development of the Republic of Nigeria, The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
In his remarks, The Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Nigeria, John Groffen applauded the growing market for Nigeria’s agricultural products globally but lamented its suppression by the nation’s dependency on oil. He therefore urged the stakeholders to key into the window period of the spotlight on agriculture and revive its lost glory.
The consensus was a prospective bright future for both countries as the mutual benefits would help the development of both countries. There was also a call on the present administration not to discard laudable policies but to harmonize them into a better and more rewarding one.
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