Nigeria, Israel to deepen bilateral cooperation through agriculture partnership

Nigeria is to tap from the experience and expertise of Israel in area of science-based agricultural development as part of renewed efforts at deepening bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries; in the over-all interest of their peoples.

This was the outcome of a bilateral discussion between the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria – His Excellency Mr. Guy Feldma, who paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh.

Highlight of the parley between the Minister and the Israeli Envoy is the commitment to review the existing MOU on agricultural cooperation between the two countries with a view to widening it to include cooperation in research, attracting aids from Development Partners, strengthening of Research Institutes on agriculture, capacity building and practical training of youth in agriculture with more priority on the practical over theory.

The Minister later announced that Nigeria will be participating in the 2018 edition of AGRITEC ISRAEL – an International Agricultural Fair to be held in May 2018, which will afford Nigeria, the opportunity of showcasing its agricultural potentials to the outside world with a view to attracting foreign investment in agriculture and allied agri-business.

It is also envisaged that that the number of prospective investors in various value chain of agri-business will attract foreign capital and help create employment for its teeming unemployed youth thereby strengthening Nigeria’s efforts at diversifying its economy with agriculture as the cornerstone.

The Minister and his visitor used the opportunity to exchange views on critical areas of cooperation and opportunities that could be explored to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation.