Benin and Nigeria Collaborate to Boost Rice Production

By Richard Adorsu-

Photo Credit: iStock

NEW AFRICA BUSINESS NEWS (NABN) Accra- The authorities of Benin Republic dispatched a delegation to hunt President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention for Nigeria to assist the nation produce rice. The goal was to cease smuggling and rice importation within the two international locations.

The Benin Republic delegation met with the Chief of Workers to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari on the presidential villa, Abuja. The Benenois delegation, who was led by the nation’s minister of agriculture, Gaston Cossi
Dossouhoui, was led to the villa by Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and the Minister of Finance, Funds and Nationwide Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Talking to State Home correspondents after the assembly, Bagudu, who’s Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Discussion board, defined that the delegation and Rice Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria met with the (CoS) to advance ongoing talks between the 2 international locations on methods to replicate Nigeria’s rice farming programme in Benin Republic.

He stated the concept is that the transfer can result in the discontinuation of rice importation to West Africa. Based on him, “Rice Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria met with the chief of workers to the president to progress the dialogue which has been occurring between them and Benin Republic for the 2 international locations to duplicate the success of Nigeria’s rice farming programme in Benin, in order that we will cease rice importation in west Africa in shortest potential time.

“That is partnership inside the framework of ECOWAS settlement and the Africa Continental Free Commerce Settlement and our brotherly relationship between president Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Tallon who’ve the protected imaginative and prescient that we could be larger collectively.”

Additionally talking, the Nationwide President of Rice Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria, Aminu Goronyo, defined that the Benin authorities was desirous of studying from the Nigerian expertise in rice manufacturing. He stated, “They’re right here as a result of they’ve seen the successes recorded within the space of rice manufacturing in Nigeria and their President was so blissful, he was excited.

“And he stated they need to come to Nigeria, companion with Nigerian rice farmers and see how Nigerian farmers can replicate the identical factor in Benin Republic in order that they may be capable to obtain the successes this authorities recorded within the space of rice manufacturing.” Requested what Nigeria can educate them, he stated: “After all, they’re our sister nation, we’re one and the identical folks and I feel their president is able to settle for what now we have used to realize these successes which is the federal government’s will as a result of our successes is
said with the political will that this authorities has.

“And that’s precisely what they need to be taught in order that they may use the identical strategy to realize the successes they’re seeing to come back to us to be taught extra.” Each Republic of Benin and the Rice Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria (RIFAN) have entered into a settlement to spice up rice farming in its nation. The Nationwide physique of RIFAN was in Cotonou, the Nation’s capital just lately on the invitation of President Patrice Tallon for dialogue on how the MoU could be fine-tuned and signed.

The Delegation was acquired by the President in his Residential Home in Cotonou alongside together with his Minister of Agriculture and that of Overseas Affairs.

RIFAN’s Nationwide President, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo who briefed President Tallon in regards to the Affiliation success and the way it has reworked and revolutionized rice manufacturing in Nigeria, stated the nation can leverage on their success story to feed herself and export extra to neighboring international locations.

“We developed a template that was adopted by the Central Financial institution of Nigeria and accepted by our President Muhammadu Buhari which in consequence, Nigeria is at this time rice self-sufficient nation.

“We now have greater than 12 million farmers working with us producing many of the rice paddy the nation wants.
“Benin republic can even leverage on that whereby your nation can produce the Rice to feed herself and export extra to neighboring international locations.

“In the event you do that, it means you’re creating wealth and job alternative on your folks and your nation”, Goronyo stated.

President Talon stated the closure of Nigerian Borders served as an eye fixed opener to the nation as such, was able to work with Nigeria to cease smuggling of rice. Whereas noting that Nigeria is superior in agriculture in Africa, he stated Benin Republic is able to be taught from Nigeria by RIFAN.

“The current border closure is a chance for the 2 counties to collaborate higher in agricultural commerce.

“This can promote the 2 international locations financial growth, unity and wellbeing of our folks”, he added.

For New Africa Business News Richard Adorsu Reports,  Africa Correspondent