By Perpetua Onuegbu
Abuja,: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has partnered with a firm, ABG Paula Germany, to promote agri-business in the country.
The partnership, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, is aimed at discussing strategies for Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 Fruit Logistica, holding from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7, 2025 in BERLIN, Germany.
Kyari said on Wednesday in Abuja that the meeting provided opportunity for stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in agricultural production, processing, preservation, packaging and promotion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was represented by the ministry’s Director, Agric. Business and Marketing Department, Mr Micheal Adebiyi.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the sector, especially on the issue of ‘farmgate pricing and purchasing’.
According to Kyari, this is a situation in which briefcase farmers rip-off the real farmers who have laboured so much to bring farm produce for people’s consumption.
He said that ministry had improved agro-infrastructure, especially storage, power supply and processing machineries, which formed the bedrock of value-addition for agri-business drive.
“I commend the management of ABG Paulas Germany for attracting the German Agribusiness Alliance to partner with the ministry in areas of capacity building and improved processing capabilities,” he said.
The minister also said that the partnership covered access to market and finance which the pre-summit was set to avail participants, as the ministry made efforts to get relevant stakeholders to attend the 2025 Germany event.
Speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of ABG Paulas Germany, Mr Ambrose Okojie, thanked the ministry for accepting to partner with his organisation.
Okojie welcomed the mobilisation of relevant stakeholders to attend the pre-summit and preparatory meeting for the 2025 Fruit Logisitca Trade and Exhibition and Conference scheduled for Berlin, Germany.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the managing director briefed participants on the importance of the pre-summit.
He said that it would afford participants the opportunity to discuss and network with stakeholders on strategic alliance and partnership, and foster collaboration on how best to maximise the gains of the Fruit Logistica.
He said that the firm had decided to mobilise high-level partners with expertise in international long-term financing, international business legal drafting, solar and renewable energies as well as equipment owing to its findings on the challenges faced by Nigerian farmers.
In attendance also was the National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and other specialised agro-producers.
They all called on the governments at all levels to address the frequent insecurity affecting farmers, aside the growing effect of climate change.
NAN reports that Fruit Logistica is Germany’s premier global trade fair attracting a diverse range of stakeholders, including leading industry experts from across the globe. (NAN)
