Agriculture
Chinese Company Encourages Nigerian Farmers, Enterprises With Expo
The China Shandong is organising an Expo in Lagos to encourage Nigerian farmers, enterprises and assist Chinese enterprises to export high quality Nigerian local produce.
The Tide source reports that the Expo, tagged “2022 Electromechanical Exports Commodities Nigeria Expo “, opened on Wednesday and ended today at Lanmark Centre, Lagos.
The Expo was sponsored by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province.
The Promotion Officer, Shandong Brightway International Exhibition Company Ltd., Mr Rider Han, said this in a statement he signed and made available to Nigerians in Lagos.
He said the produce targeted were sesame, cashew nuts, cottonseeds and shells among others.
He encouraged Chinese and African enterprises to trade through barter mode, and actively establish a “green channel” for the export of high-quality products with African characteristics for coordinatedY development.
According to him, the exhibits from Chinese enterprises included mechanical and electrical machines, building materials, hardware tools, vehicle auto parts, household appliances and goods, food industry and equipment.
Others are plastic industry and products, security and fire protection, chemical products and equipment, oil and natural gas equipment, water industry, beauty products, textiles and clothing, health equipment, sports goods and medical equipment.
He said the Expo was a way of responding to the current complicated and challenging international trade situation.
According to him, it is to create a new mechanism, new model and new platform for China-Africa cooperation and meet the needs of African industrial development.
“Since 2007, the expo has adhered to the combination of economy and trade, while it continues to promote both import and export,” he said.
Han said many guests from the Consulate General of China in Lagos, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, other units and media were expected to visit and have warm exchanges with exhibitors during the expo.
He said in 2021, facing the global severe epidemic situation with innovative idea, the expo adopted the mode of the combination of offline expo, on-site professional services and online instant negotiation, and successfully built a communication channel between Chinese and foreign enterprises.
“This expo is a bridge for China-Nigeria trade cooperation. At the expo, you will see all kinds of high-quality Chinese goods, from industrial machinery to daily necessities.
“Over 150 manufacturers from China will be exhibiting at this year’s expo alongside government institutions/agencies in Nigeria”, Han said.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
