The Federal Government of Nigeria and the State of Israel are set to deepen their collaboration in agriculture, with a focus on technology-driven solutions to enhance food production and security.
During a high-level meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, emphasized the importance of agricultural cooperation, stating that Israel’s expertise in advanced farming techniques could significantly benefit Nigeria’s food sector.
Israel’s Innovative Agricultural Technology for Nigeria
Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Michael Freeman, highlighted Israel’s success in agriculture despite its challenging climate. He pointed out that with technologies such as drip irrigation, Nigeria could revolutionize its rice production and other crop yields.
“With drip irrigation, we can grow rice anywhere, even in the driest regions. To demonstrate this, we will plant rice on our embassy’s farm in the coming week,” Freeman stated.
Enhancing Food Production Through Knowledge Transfer
Ambassador Ojukwu welcomed Israel’s offer to introduce modern agricultural techniques to Nigeria, particularly in irrigation, water management, and mechanized farming. She emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes food security and poverty alleviation, making Israeli technology a valuable asset.
“We are open to any technology that will enhance large-scale food production, especially for staples like rice. Israel’s agricultural expertise can help us achieve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on food imports,” she said.
Israel also reaffirmed its commitment to entrepreneurial mentorship programs, such as the i-FAIR initiative, which has trained over 2,000 Nigerians in agricultural innovation and business development.
Strengthening Bilateral Agricultural Trade
Both nations discussed ways to increase agricultural trade, with Ojukwu calling for an expansion beyond the current $250 million trade volume. She urged Nigerian farmers and agribusinesses to explore export opportunities to Israel and take advantage of its advanced processing and packaging techniques.
A Roadmap for Future Collaboration
As part of the partnership, Nigeria and Israel are exploring the establishment of a joint commission to facilitate technology transfer, investment in agribusiness, and improved access to agricultural finance.
The meeting, held at Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja, marks a significant step towards sustainable agriculture and food security in Nigeria, leveraging Israel’s expertise to transform the sector.
