Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc) To Extend All Possible Technological Assistance To Nigerian Agricultural Scientists For Food Security And To Diversify The Economy
Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Director General, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) has personally thanked Senator Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Former Governor of Sokoto State and Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Dauda Danlaldi,mni for their recent visit to Pakistan in order to explore Scientific Agricultural Co-operation between Nigeria and Pakistan especially between Sokoto State and Punjab Province. Pakistan today is the number fourth world exporter of rice, fifth wheat and sixth dairy producer.
Sen. Aliyu Magatakadar Wammokko stated that the visit was a response to the invitation of President Mamnoon Hussain during his maiden visit to Nigeria in 2014. He pointed out that the present Federal Government under the dynamic leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is according agriculture top priority and that the Nigerian economy needs immediate measures to diversify for economic development and prosperity.
Dr. Muhammad while responding said that the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) under the umbrella of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) will provide all possible technological assistance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria that can accelerate the achievement of food security and agricultural production.
He said the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) will co-ordinate with Nigerian Agricultural Department to serve as a common platform for Nigerian Agricultural Scientists to undertake joint ventures in Agricultural Research, adoption of scientific methods to grow better crops, through highly qualified Pakistan Agricultural Scientists.
He added that PARC Scientists will also offer opportunities of joint agricultural research facilities and share knowledge with Nigerian Agricultural Scientists from the platform of National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Islamabad.
It is hoped that the relevant Agricultural Authorities of Federal Republic of Nigeria including the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD) will take immediate measures towards signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PARC and Nigerian Agriculture Department to exchange knowledge and develop new technology to boost agriculture.
Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Dauda Danladi, mni said Federal Republic of Nigeria must strive now to attain self-sufficiency in food products besides initiating revolutionary steps in rice production and wheat farming in the shortest possible time as Nigeria has the potential to be the breadbasket of West Africa and save foreign exchange and pull many out of poverty.
In the past few years, on the average, Federal Republic of Nigeria has spent in excess of 11 billion US Dollars annually importing wheat, rice, sugar and fish