The Chinese Government initiative Green Agriculture West Africa Limited has provided agricultural technical training programmes for over 400 Nigerian government officials.
These initiatives aim to bolster agricultural cooperation between China and Nigeria.
The company, which has invested in agriculture by establishing Green Agriculture West Africa Limited in Nigeria, focuses on producing and supplying rice seeds and developing diversified seed businesses tailored to local planting structures.
Since 2016, the company has organised agricultural technical training programmes sponsored by the Chinese Government.
These programmes have trained over 400 government officials from various regions of Nigeria.
Additionally, the company has set up seven seed production cooperatives, involving more than 5,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
Through these cooperatives, they impart rice and maize seed production techniques to local farmers.
Currently, the company boasts an annual seed production capacity exceeding 10,000 metric tonnes.
Their high-yield rice variety, GAWAL R1, offers an average yield increase of over 30% compared to the most popular local rice variety.
As part of its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s food security, the initiative has established the CGCOC Agriculture High-Tech Abuja Industrial Park in Abuja.
This park also serves as the project site for the China-Aid Nigerian Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centre, which was completed in December 2022.
These collaborative efforts aim to strengthen agricultural ties and enhance food security in Nigeria.
Source: PUNCH