By Omotayo Edubi
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, has stated that Nigeria and the Republic of Belarus are to join forces together for mutual benefits in agriculture.
This union is established to explore the immense agricultural, economic and technical opportunities with the Republic.
Abubakar specifically acknowledged the country for its treads in advance agriculture, being one of the best in the manufacturing and production of tractors as well as one of the leading countries in the production of high quality fertilizers , about 30 per cent production capacity globally.
The Special Envoy of the President of Belarus, Col. Gen Victor Sheiman, stated that self sufficiency in food production was solution to the development of any country.
“For any country to develop, there must be self sufficiency in food, if possible export like Belarus, that is where we want to be”, the minister stated.
He said Nigeria will further strengthen alliance with Belarus in areas including: Agriculture, Trade and Industry, security and oil and gas.
In his presentation, Gen Sheiman said Nigeria had much to gain in its collaboration especially in mechanized agriculture and assured of quality control, human capacity training and development spreading through the training of the farmers on how to use the tractors, service centers for repairs of the machines.
He said that Nigeria could further benefit from a tractor manufacturing plant to be assembled here in the country consequently after an initial 3 year implementation period, 2022-2025 of collaboration in the supply of quality tractors to Nigeria.
Gen Sheiman further revealed that Belarus has the ability and proficiency to partner with Nigeria particularly in agriculture, trade and investment and defence even to other sectors of the economy.
He appealed the setting up of a working group across sectors of the Nigerian economy and with his country’s team for a smooth and transparent process.
Also present at the meeting were: the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Richard Adebayo and his Police Affairs Counterpart, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi , Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oil and gas and technical Directors of the Ministry.
