Turkey to invest $15m in agric sector-FG

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, has appreciated the gesture shown by the Turkish Government to invest 15 million dollars in the Nigerian agricultural sector in two years. This was made known in a press release made available to Food farm news by Mohammed Abdullahi Gana on behalf of Director Information.

The Minister reportedly disclosed this when he received a Turkish investment delegation led by the Commercial Counsellor, Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Onur Akgul in his office, in Abuja, recently.

Shehuri said that, prior to the discovery of crude oil, agriculture was the main source of revenue generation in Nigeria, but unfortunately it was abandoned due to the easy resources realized from the oil sector.

The Minister acknowledged the fact that Nigeria stand to gain more from Turkey experience in the Agricultural Value Chain having progressed exceedingly in the sector over the years.

Shehuri pointed out that there are a lot of areas of collaboration between Nigeria and the Turkish Government like subsistence and mechanized intervention farming in order to achieve food security for the development of the country.

He assured the members of the delegation, the full support of the ministry, adding that the ministry would come up with a document that would guide all investors in the agricultural sector and help both the investors and the government achieve the desired goal.

The Minister promised that a portal will be created where all the information needed by the investors about the achievement of the ministry and its agencies would be provided.

Earlier in his address, the Turkish commercial counsellor, Mr. Onur Akgul, thanked the Minister for the opportunity given to them to invest in the country, adding that they are going to invest 15 million dollars in areas like the mobile solar system, mechanization, skill training, food supply security, agricultural infrastructure and rural development within two years of commencement of the collaboration.