Nigeria has entered into a partnership with the Republic of China to explore the potential of Chinese Juncao technology to boost Nigeria’s agricultural development.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, revealed this when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Cui Jian Chun to his office today (March 31), in Abuja.
The minister applauded China for its vast agricultural programmes and projects which he said has helped the country attain food sufficiency despite its huge population.
“If China can feed itself with over one billion population, we can too. We are ready to leverage Chinese technology to also develop our agricultural base.”
The minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his focus and interventions in the agricultural sector, noting that it is a viable sector that would create jobs, especially for the youth and boost economic development.
Abubakar assured the Chinese ambassador that the ministry was keen to partner with China to share the Juncao technology in grass feed for livestock farming, traditional medicine and biomass energy for crop protection.
“We want to harness these projects to create more jobs for Nigerian youths. Anything we do in agriculture is directed to youth empowerment will continue to collaborate and cooperate with China to actualise our goals.”
Earlier in his remarks, Chun said he was in the ministry to share areas of mutual, bilateral and economic benefits between Nigeria and China, informing that China was ready to launch a 3- prone pilot project in Nigeria, using the Juncao technology. These are mushroom cultivation, traditional medicine and the Juncao giant grass. He said that the Juncao grass grows faster with high yields and rich nutrition and is used for the alleviation of soil erosion and rocky desertification.
He explained further that the technology utilises Juncao raw materials to produce mushrooms, feeds, fertiliser, biomass energy, biological materials to support environmental protection and climate change response.
The senior special assistant to the president on youth and student affairs, Nasir Adhama who accompanied the ambassador on the visit said Nigeria and China had a lot to share, especially in agriculture. The nation, he said, will gain more if it taps into the vast potential of China to develop the sector.
A statement by the ministry’s director of information, signed by his deputy, Mrs. Eno Olotu, said Chun also stressed that any country that wants to develop in agriculture and generate jobs for its youth, must partner with China for their expansive and innovative technology, adding that both countries will gain a lot in the collaboration.
