The Ghanian Government has solicited partnership with Kebbi State Government on possible ways to boost rice production for the benefit of the two countries.
The Ghanian Minister in-charge of Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku stated this during a courtesy visit on the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Sen. Umar Abubakar-Tafida at the Cabinet Office in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
Opoku, who is also the leader of the Ghanian delegation to Nigeria, stressed the need for collaboration amongst African countries to boost food production towards attaining self-sufficiency in agriculture.
“Hearing the success story of WACOTT in rice production, we said yes, Ghana and Nigeria are all the same, going through history, we have shared values. All Anglophone countries have shared cooperation in several endeavours.
“We have multifaceted symbiotic relationships which had led to tourism and several interventions. I understand that life is a process of learning, at every stage you learn and then you improve upon your performance.
“So, if Nigeria has a story worth learning, we should come and look at it, listen to the people, interact with beneficiary farmers to ascertain the incontrovertible truism, so that when you make a decision, that decision will be well-grounded,” he said.
According to the minister, that is the main reason of their visit to Nigeria.
He, however, said, as custom demands, “when you go to somebody’s territory, it’s appropriate politically to pay homage to the landlord, register your presence, let him know that you are in his area for critical and official duty.
“Therefore, we are here to interact with our brother, the deputy governor, to see if there are other areas we can cooperate to move both countries forward.”
Responding, the deputy governor appreciated the Ghanian entourage for the visit and urged them to sustain the good partnership for benefit of both nations.
The visit, he said, affirmed commitment and collaborative efforts of Ghanian government to exploit the opportunities therein in Kebbi agriculture.
Tracing the history of Nigeria-Ghana relationship to pre-independence and independence era, the deputy governor observed that the collaboration would no doubt open a new chapter of bilateral progress.
While describing Kebbi State as a rice hub of the nation, Abubakar-Tafida lauded the decision of His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, who pledged to sustain fertilisers distribution free-of-charge to farmers across the state to boost their morale.
“In line with his determination to keep Kebbi number in rice and wheat production in Nigeria, His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has ensured that irrigation is sustained across the state.
“Recently, he distributed pumping machines to farmers free-of-charge in addition to improved seeds. Remember, food is the foundation of everything in life, hence the need for us to be food secured,” he noted.
The deputy governor observed that his principal (the governor) was supporting farmers in the state to improve their living standards, facilitate national food security and ensure availability and accessibility of food at moderate prices for the common good of all.
