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The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on food security and agriculture advancement with Cuba.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria on the sidelines of the G77 + China Leaders’ Summit in Havana, the Cuban capital.
In a statement in Abuja by the Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, the minister said the Expression of Interest (EOI) was a historic journey to strengthen the ties between Nigeria and Cuba in the field of agriculture.
The signing ceremony took place at the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture in the presence of officials from both countries.
During the pre-signing meeting, Kyari lauded the willingness of Cuban government to partner Nigeria, saying both countries share a common vision for their people.
He also underlined Nigeria’s demographic advantage, vast land resources, immense agricultural potential, promoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for food and nutrition security.
“It was in this spirit that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development evolved into the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,” he said.
Kyari extended a hand of partnership to his Cuban counterpart for a focus on vital areas, such as bio-fortification of agricultural produce, improvement of agricultural seeds and seedlings, agricultural mechanisation, cutting-edge technologies for increased yields, and the reduction of post-harvest losses.
The minister stressed that “Nigeria is keenly interested in collaborating with Cuba in the domains of poultry, livestock, and fisheries”.
Key areas of the cooperation include veterinary medicine, vaccine development, artificial insemination, and the development of pastures and ranching as essential components in curbing the challenges posed by inefficient open grazing of cattle.
Others are: training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer as the cornerstone of any thriving agricultural economy.
Cuban Agriculture Minister Ydael Jesus Perez Brito, who signed the MoU for his country, told the Nigerian delegation about the island nation’s agricultural prowess, admitting that the country has “over 500,000 hectares under cultivation” and remained “a global player in the export of tobacco, coffee, honey, and other commodities”.
Brito expressed delight at the opportunity to partner with Nigeria, promising that Cuba would provide impactful cooperation in identified areas contained in the MoU.
The Cuban minister highlighted his country’s agricultural human capital and different models of practices that have raised its productivity.
He said Cuba would deploy its wealth of experience to help Nigeria achieve its agriculture and food security policies.
Nigeria will benefit from Cuba’s agriculture capacity in bilateral relationship as well as agricultural productivity, sustainability, knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
The Nigerian delegation to the G77 + China Leaders’ Summit in Cuba was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kyari was accompanied by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cuba, Ben Okoyen, and other members of the Nigerian delegation.