The partnership agreement entered into between Sokoto government and various companies in the He Province of China will revolutionise the state’s agricultural landscape for the long term benefit of the people, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has stated.
Speaking after a meeting with Chinese investors at the Haofeng Machinery Manufacturing Company in Zhengzhou, Tambuwal stated the story of He Province’s rise to the top of China’s food chain was a model which Sokoto would emulate.
A statement issued in China by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, stated like He, agriculture has traditionally been the pillar of Sokoto’s economy, with the state among Nigeria’s highest producers of wheat, corn, onions, tomato and rice.
“He is considered the breadbasket of China. Our target in Sokoto is that in the next 10 years, we want to become the most important state in Nigeria in terms of agriculture.
“We hope to standardise the production of important agricultural items such as beef, fish, maize and vegetable oil. Our vision to have the full agricultural value chain fully embedded thereby creating job opportunities for the citizens,” the Governor added.
He stated visiting the Province has come at the right time considering the renewed relationship blossoming between Nigeria and China.
As stated by a memorandum of understanding earlier signed, China’s He companies will invest more millions of dollars in construction of a demonstration farm in Sokoto.
It also provides for experts from Sokoto and He Province to carry out joint analysis and study of climatic conditions, soil moisture status, crop cultivation techniques and plant protection and quarantine
The partnership will also promote lease investment and promotion of agricultural machinery between the two entities.
As stated by Tambuwal, He has seen rapid development in its economy over the past two decades, and its economy has expanded at an even faster rate than China’s national average.
“In the same vein, Sokoto has the potential to lead Nigeria’s agricultural revolution and we intend to be at the forefront,” he also stated.
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