The Federal Government says it will explore the potentials in the Chinese Juncao technology for the development of a stronger agricultural base for the country.
A statement by Mrs Eno Olotu, Deputy Director, Information in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, explained that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said this would be done through the ministry.
Abubakar said this when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria , Cui Jian Chun visited him on Thursday, in Abuja.
The minister applauded China for its vast agricultural programmes and projects which he said has helped the country attain food sufficiency despite its huge population.
“If China can feed itself with over one billion population, we can too. We are ready to leverage on the Chinese technology to also develop our agricultural base,” he said.
Abubakar commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his focus and interventions in the agricultural sector, saying that it is a viable sector that would create jobs especially for the youth and boost economic development .
He assured the Chinese ambassador that the ministry was keen in partnering with China to share in the Juncao technology in grass feed for livestock farming, traditional medicine and in biomass energy for crop protection.
“We want to harness on these projects to create more jobs for Nigerian youth.
”Anything we do in agriculture is directed to youth empowerment, we will continue to collaborate and cooperate with China to actualise our goals,” he said.
Earlier, Chun, said he was in the ministry to share areas of mutual, bilateral and economic benefits between Nigeria and China.
He said that China was ready to launch a 3-prone pilot project in Nigeria, using the Juncao technology.
Chun said that the Juncao grass grows faster with high yields and rich nutrition and is used for the alleviation of soil erosion and rocky desertification.
He explained further that the technology utilises Juncao raw materials to produce feeds, fertilisers, biomass energy, biological materials to support environmental protection and climate change response.
Mr Nasir Adhama, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, said Nigeria and China had a lot to share together especially in agriculture.
Adhama, who accompanied the ambassador on the visit said, the nation would gain more if it taps into the vast potentials of China to develop the sector.
He also said that any country that wants to develop in agriculture and generate jobs for its youth, must partner with China for their expansive and innovative technology, adding that both countries would gain a lot in the collaboration
