FG, Brazil partner on food security

Chief Audu Ogbeh

*Establishes cottage fish farms in states

Nigeria and Brazil have agreed to explore an inter-ministerial framework for partnership on food security as the Brazilian delegation, led by Minister of External Relations, Aloysio Nines Fereirra, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh  cemented the cooperation talk on the occasion of the 2017 World Food Celebration.

The meeting had in attendance the Nigerian Ambassador to Brazil, Christopher Okeke, and Ambassador Fernando José Marroni de Abreu, the Under Secretary Africa and Middle East and several top officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chief Ogbeh sought assistance in the area of livestock industry expansion from Brazilian government in terms of tractors supply and machineries that would boost soybean and beef productivity noting that “Brazil is the world-leading exporter of beef with 35 per cent share of the global supply”

Ogbeh said Nigeria required one million tractors over the next 10 years to encourage its young and middle age farmers into accelerated production, processing and value addition using modern equipment and tractors to ensure commercialization towards import substitute and wealth creation.
The Minister stated that the Federal Government would want  Brazil to grant the offer on reasonable terms, promising to make repayment  as being scheduled adding that “Nigeria sees Brazil as a very special partner with shared historical and cultural similarities. We want to deepen the corporation between us. We have great admiration for Brazil and will want her to include Nigeria in the more food programme policy. We need soybeans and want to improve our beef production. We don’t look after cattle here because of shortage of water. There is also the perennial clash between farmers and herdsmen”

Ogbeh added that under the Green Alternative Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP), government has been able to establish cottage fish farms in seven states that included Bornu, Ekiti, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Rivers and FCT towards reduction of $5 million dollar annually expended on import through promotion of local consumption fish with high protein.

He added that in order to enhance fish production and processing, the ministry distributed over 200 kilns to select fish markets and farmers nationwide so as to boost shelf life, promote preservation, reduce post- harvest losses and enhance value addition for fish in the country.

“Government also established the National Aquaculture Certification Centre and carried out a nationwide standardization and certification of fish farms and processing facilities in compliance with HACCP, EU directives and US Tracy Law to facilitate export of Nigeria’s fish and fish product to the foreign markets. FG also constructed 33 silos complexes with a combined capacity of 1,360,000 metric tons and commodity warehouses numbering 48 of 2,000 capacities in various locations within the country” said Ogbeh

In response, Fereirra said that Brazil, the world largest grower of coffee, had in the last 20 years, emphasized on large-scale farming and has met regional demand in animal husbandry and soybeans production.

He said that after losing eight per cent of its GDP, Brazil introduced reforms and labor regulations by cutting 40 per cent of public spending, which resulted in one per cent growth last year.