The Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Carlos Garcete, has revealed plans to sign a Green Imperative Agreement worth $1.2billion with the federal government to boost investment in the livestock sector.
Garcete disclosed this on Monday during a courtesy visit to the minister of livestock development, Alhaji Idi Maiha at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He explained that Brazil is keen at strengthening ties with Nigeria not just to sell products but help Nigeria invest in agriculture and livestock, adding that the $1.2billion will be used to export tractors, bulldozers, and other farming equipment to for agricultural purposes in Nigeria.
“We will have a signing ceremony, probably by the beginning of February, of the Green Imperative.
“The Green Imperative is an agreement, a $1.2 billion worth agreement, between Brazil and Nigeria. And according to that agreement, Brazil will export tractors, bulldozers, equipment to Nigeria to be used in agriculture. And there will be also an office here in Abuja to follow up the Green Imperative one,” he said.
In his response, the minister of livestock development, Maiha underscore the need to strengthen the bi-lateral ties with Brazil, adding that the agricultural sector in Brazil by any standard is far advanced and also boasts as one of the biggest players, if not the biggest player, in the beef industry in the world.
Maiha noted that there is urgent need to modernize the livestock sector and also opening the space for investors across the globe to invest heavily while reducing importation.
“The issue is that this economy needs to grow. And growing this economy means modernizing
our livestock sector, not just by importing finished products, but it has to go deep down by providing opportunity for Brazilian investors to come here and invest in Nigeria, being the largest market in Africa. From here you can also export to other regions.
“It makes it shorter, logistically cheaper, and also we have the environment. If you look at the ecology, climate, soil type, in fact, culturally, Brazil and Nigeria have more to share than anyother country in the southern hemisphere.”
He however, pledged the government’s resolve to ensure partnership and collaboration with the Brazilian government on breed improvement, research and development and development of feed and fodder in Nigeria.
“Wehave a lot to learn from there. And they have promised to link us up with Embrapa to assist us so that this transformation will be science, research, and development-based.
“We’re also looking at the development of feed and fodder in this country so that we can support the animals that are in-country here in terms of sufficient feed and fodder,” he added.