Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, has lauded the commitment of the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger and Saemaul Undong Foundation, Korea, on the newly established partnership amid at improving the lifestyle of local farmers within Katsina State and refining the face of agriculture within Nigeria.
The commendation was made at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCRI and Saemaul Undong Foundation, for the education and training of extension farmers and local rice farmers in Katsina State.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the partnership sealed at the NCRI Ibadan station, Moor Plantation, Oyo State, was also shared by the Katsina State government and Dangote Rice Limited respectively, which would take off soon after the signing.
Nanono through his representative and the Director, South-West Zone, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, noted that the MoU would strengthen as well as boost rice production in Nigeria, just as he noted that the initiative would encourage and building capacity for famers.
“The MoU will go a long way in encouraging others and develop agriculture in Nigeria. Before now, we have has various partnership, but any partnership must have a specific area its addressing for a fruitful impact. I believe the foreign partnership has a direction and they are focused to contribute to the growth of rice production in Nigeria. I believe that their effect would be effective,” he added.
Saemaul Undong Foundation, County Director, Nigeria, Kyungbok Lee, described the MoU as a welcome development noting that it would move mission of the foundation faster following the partnership with NCRI, Kastina State government and Dangote rice. For the cooperation between both parties we will actualise our project this year.
“We found the system in Nigeria well structured, but how the government and local farmers implementing or applying farm production might need advice from the specialist group or foundation like us. So, what we are trying to do is. Some people suffer from resources or lack of education, but we will provide what they need, not necessarily finance, proper lecture join them in practice on the field and supply proper material to boost agriculture as well as increase their income buy and production.
“We stands for ‘New Community Movement’ which is guided by over 50 years of experience in the Republic of Korea and is presls across the African continent, aims at rural development within local communities and examining their weakness and strength in a bid to improve their productivity and self-reliance,” Lee added.
He also stressed that the collaboration is key in the efforts of the government to boost rice production in the state as NCRI is charged with the role of providing the needed materials for education and training of local rice farmers.
“NCRI is also charge with the development of training modules for pest control for local rice farmers. This also aligns with the foundation’s aim to support members of the rural community who are into rice farming to increase theirproduction capacity, reduce post-harvest losses and improve their overall income level through provision of technical support and on site equipment. Saemaul Undong Foundation allows communities to harness locally available resources to reduce their cost of production,” he said.
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