Niger govt partners Chinese firms to reduce poverty through Agriculture.
FROM SAMSON ALFA, MINNA.
Niger state government in collaboration with the Chinese Special Agro- industrial processing Zone is making a concerted efforts to reduce post harvest losses and to acquire more knowledge to improve quality of Agricultural products.
The partnership with Chinese Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone facilities in Chendgu, Mlian Uang, and De Yang City, all within Sichuan Province is to acquire more knowledge to improve the quality of agricultural products was part of Bago’s quest to actualise the new Niger- agenda through agriculture
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The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman while elaborating the involvement of the state government,said the arrangements is to enhance food security, reduce poverty, and improve the livelihoods of our citizens
Usman who led the delegation’s visit to established Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone facilities in Chendgu, Mlian Uang, and De Yang City, all within Sichuan Province, also said the visit is aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and investment opportunities.
The SSG further explained that “by learning from China’s successful experiences in agro-industrial processing, as a State, we can enhance our own capabilities, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth”.
According to him,The visit also afford us an opportunity as a government to agree on terms of engagement for the already established designated Niger State Special Agro-industrial Processing (Zone) Corridor.
Alh Abubakar Usman further stated that, the corridor has the potential to attract significant investments and promote agricultural development,also to increase the state’s competitiveness in the global market.
He added that the visit will also contribute to the State’s economic growth by: enhancing Agricultural Productivity, adopting modern agro-industrial processing technologies.
Also speaking on attracting investments, the state Commissioner of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Aminu Suleiman Takuma,said the visit will attract Chinese investments in Niger State’s agro-industrial sector, thereby creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
He added that,“as part of plans to promote economic diversification, the government is developing an agro-industrial sector, so as to reduce the dependence on oil revenues, promote economic diversification, and increase our resilience to external shocks”.
He assured that by doing this, “we can improve food security through agricultural productivity and to improve food processing capabilities, reduce poverty, and improve the livelihoods of our citizens”.
