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11/22/2024 12:25:48 am

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China, Nigeria Team Up to Boost Agricultural Production

China, Nigeria Team Up to Boost Agricultural Production

(Photo : Getty Images) China and Nigeria are looking forward to partner and improve the agricultural sector of Nigeria.

China is seeking to create a trademark in Nigeria's agricultural sector through a partnership between the two countries that aimed at improving food production in the region.

Speaking at the "Zero Hunger by 2030" meeting in Nigeria, Chinese ambassador Zhou Pinjiian promised that the second economic world power would assist in financing small and medium farmers through loans given out by China's Development Bank.

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Pingjian attributed his visit to Nigeria to President Muhammadi Buhari's recent visit to China, adding that more visits and partnerships are to be expected, according to a report by the Nation.

"Agriculture is among the areas we wish to assist Nigeria with," Pingjian said. "The financing will operate just like Nigeria Central Bank's, Anchor Borrowers scheme."

Present in the meeting was Dr. Chiji Ojukwu, the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Director at the African Development Bank, where he said that the "Zero Hunger by 2030" initiative would kick off at the beginning of 2017.

Apart from China's Development Bank, African Development Bank (AFDB) also aims to assist the Ogun, Sokoto, Benue, and Ebonyi region. They are expected to submit two crops and one livestock that they can breed favorably in the region before the year ends.

"We can push these states to run and move ahead with production, processing, and then the community will monitor, provide resources, bring donors like us," Ojukwu said.

The Guardian quoted him saying that the implementation part of the project will be handled by non-governmental firms, whereas the government will be given the mandate to provide an enabling environment.

"Establishment of the mills, production, marketing and processing will be handled by the private sector," he said.

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