Nigeria has asked the US government for help in addressing important problems that are harming the nation’s agriculture industry. As part of his diplomatic visits to the US, Vice President Kashim Shettima recently held a meeting with Cary Fowler, the US Special Envoy for Global Food Security, to start a conversation.
“We seek the support of the United States Government, be it technical or otherwise, towards addressing challenges in our agricultural sector,” the vice president noted via a statement.
“Mechanisation is essential, good quality seeds, fertilization, improved agricultural practices, smart agriculture – these are the solutions we seek because our entire focus is on increasing yield and improving productivity. It goes beyond the mere acreage used for production,” the vice president added.
He gave the US Special Envoy for Global Food Security his word that the Tinubu government is prepared to work with pertinent parties to increase agricultural production not only in Nigeria but throughout Africa.
He said that Nigeria will maintain its current ties with agricultural partners and foster the partnership for ongoing expansion and development.
“We will nurture it because more than ever before. We are facing food security challenges. We have to think outside the box; we have to look for ingenious solutions that can help us overcome the challenges. I believe with your support (the political will is there now more than ever before), together, we can save humanity and serve the human race,” he noted.
In response, Fowler said that the US government has started an innovative agriculture initiative centered on Africa in partnership with other important players.
“Here in the US, we’ve launched what we term the ‘Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil,’ a partnership involving the US, the AU, and the FAO. In essence, our objective is to assist African nations, from the national level down to individual farmers, with ineffective soil management, ensuring both sustainability and productivity in soil cultivation,” Fowler remarked.
“Additionally, we are deeply concerned about the impact of climate change on Africa’s crops. Therefore, our joint program with the AU and FAO is exclusively tailored to address the challenges faced by African agriculture,” he added.
Source: Business Inder Africa
