Indonesia to support Nigeria’s agricultural development

The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Harry Purwanto, on Friday said his government would support agricultural development efforts in Nigerian.

Harry told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that farmers in Indonesia were ready to share experience and expertise with their counterparts in Nigeria.

He said that his country was working at prioritising agricultural development, adding that Indonesia was not relying on her oil and gas endowment.

Let me say that Indonesia does not depend on oil and gas alone. Indonesia has been trying as much as possible to ensure the diversification of her economy.

Nigeria and Indonesia have continued to have a very strong relationship, which would be sustained in the years ahead.

We are, therefore, very ready to share with Nigeria, how we are making our agricultural sector to contribute more and more to the development of our economy,’’ he said.

The envoy, who restated his government’s commitment to boosting its agriculture sector, said that the President of his country, Mr Joko Widodo, planned to increase government’s priority on agriculture from 20 per cent.

He said that his country would have a lot to share with Nigeria in areas of agro-tourism and farming systems, stressing that such areas would boost the country’s food production and create employment.

He disclosed that a Nigerian private organisation was already working on the possibility of leading some farmers to Indonesia to understudy some Indonesian farmers.

Harry expressed optimism that an exchange of farming ideas and practices between Indonesian and Nigerian farmers would boost Nigeria’s food production in the years ahead.

We need to know that our two countries, Indonesia and Nigeria, have the South-South Cooperation that should be well harnessed by Nigeria in boosting food production.

And, we sincerely believe that agricultural development is one major area that our two countries should share their commonalities,’’ he said. (NAN)