News in Brief:
– Israel seeks to expand its partnership with Nigeria to promote sustainable agriculture.
– This collaboration could involve sharing expertise in areas like drought-resistant crops and development of a sustainable use of marine resources.
Israel’s ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has expressed his country’s desire to strengthen their existing partnership with Nigeria. This is with a specific focus on fostering sustainable agricultural practices in the African nation.
According to Freeman, who was speaking to newsmen in the nation’s capital city of Abuja recently, the collaboration would extend beyond the federal level. He highlighted potential partnerships with individual Nigerian states, as a means to strengthen collaborations with them.
The discussion took place on the sidelines of an executive roundtable organised by Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State and the diplomatic community. The event aimed to raise awareness of the state’s business environment and investment opportunities.
Key areas of Israel-Nigeria sustainable agriculture partnership
Freeman outlined several areas where Israel could contribute expertise, including the blue economy (the sustainable use of marine resources) and the cultivation of staple crops such as cassava, rice, and cocoa.
Furthermore, he reiterated his country’s potential to provide Nigeria with drought-resistant and fungus-resistant seedlings, which are crucial factors considering Nigeria’s climate and soil conditions.
Additionally, the Isreali envoy envisions Cross River state transforming into a major agricultural hub, supplying food not only for Nigeria but for Africa as a whole. He stated that the Isreal will adopt measures that adapt to the climate and the soil that has very low salinity in Cross River. He said that this underlines the importance of tailoring solutions to the specific environment.
However, while no formal agreements have been signed yet, the Isreali ambassador acknowledged the significant potential investment involved in this partnership.
“The cost implications of the investment between Israel and Cross River will be massive,” he stated. He then stressed the importance of a collaborative approach, where stakeholders from both sides come together to determine the most mutually beneficial investment strategies.
Emphatically, the ambassador reiterated the necessity of the partnership as something that both sides will benefiting from. “If it is a one-way relationship or one-way budget, then it is not sustainable,” he declared.
