Chairman of Eurobase Consult Limited, Don Ekesiobi, has said that his company is partnering 10 foreign companies to supply affordable farm mechanisation to boost food production in the country.
Addressing members of the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), Ekesiobi noted that agribusiness should not be left to the government alone, but an enabling environment and some form of subsidy should be provided by the government for food affordability.
He said: “In order to boost sustainable agro production and food security, we carefully selected 10 among our foreign partners with good global impactful track record that can propel the development of Nigerian agricultural business sector.
“They have contributed in executing agro projects in different western and Asian countries that are self-sufficient in food production and have high volume of exported agro produce.
“We are bringing them to Nigeria to replicate same multi-billion Dollar agro business in Nigeria. We are in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to achieve this objective.
“Agricultural business is not just the business of government, although government is expected to create enabling environment and some forms of subsidy for food to be affordable to the poor. And that is why as a private organization when Mr President declared emergency on food security in Nigeria, which is in line with his eight-point agenda, we strategically align our programmes and policies in achieving the set objective which will not only make food available, affordable and accessible but create jobs and reduce poverty among women and youths through Agro mechanisation and food processing.
“Through strategic business partnership with development partners, NGOs, farmers and commodities association, government agencies and individuals, we will capture food insecurity in Nigeria through sustainable farming practices that’s climate smart, value/nutritional driven and can satisfy the need of Nigerian people and the demand of international market.”
“With our population as a nation, the level of innovation our group is bringing in farming will revolutionize or transform agro sector real time.
“If we engage intentionally within the agro value chain we can create hundreds of thousands of jobs, wealth and foreign exchange and at same time end hunger which is the focal point of Mr. President but we have to be intentional and collaborate.”
“If we engage intentionally within the agro value chain we can create hundreds of thousands of jobs, wealth and foreign exchange and at same time end hunger which is the focal point of Mr. President but we have to be intentional and collaborate.”
He however disclosed that there will be a special Agro Equipment and Technology Expo Coming up on 16th and 17th April 2024, at NAF Conference Center Abuja.”
Mr. Ekesiobi further stated that the high import tariffs charged by the Federal Government on agro-equipment negate the food security agenda of the government.
He urged the Federal Government to review the high import tariffs on agro-equipment downwards to enable Nigerian farmers to afford them in order to boost food production in the country.
“Nigeria pays the highest import duty or tariff in the world on agro-equipment.
“But my appeal to the government is that as Mr. President has declared a state of emergency on food security, he should remove import tariffs on agro-equipment at least for some time to enable Nigeria to balance very well in the quest for food security.
“The Federal Government should also make it easier for the clearance of these equipment.
“If government insists on collection of high import tariffs, the objective of achieving food security will not be realised.
“Agro-equipment takes high volume of space. If we ship three tractors, which are in one container, what the clearing agents are charging now is N15 million.
“This was the same agro-equipment we were paying N3 million for about three years ago. After the clearing, who will buy it at this high cost?
“The government should immediately make zero import duty on agro-equipment to enable Nigeria to attain food security. The earlier the government does it, the better for everybody.”
and then