Nigeria and Thailand are moving to strengthen cooperation in agriculture as both countries explore greater collaboration in research, innovation, technology transfer and skills development.
The partnership is expected to support Nigeria’s efforts to improve food production and build a stronger and more sustainable agricultural sector.
The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, Dr. Dabban, said international partnerships would play an important role in helping Nigeria address some of the challenges confronting agriculture.
According to him, cooperation with Thailand could provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, access to modern agricultural technologies and stronger research partnerships between institutions in both countries.
He noted that closer collaboration could benefit researchers, farmers and other stakeholders by exposing them to new ideas and practical approaches that could improve agricultural productivity.
The Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Dr. Jude Ejikeme Obidiegwu, said the proposed cooperation would involve a broad range of beneficiaries.
He explained that host communities, students, farmers, cooperative societies, private-sector operators and innovators would all have opportunities to benefit from the partnership.
Obidiegwu said the initiative would also encourage agricultural entrepreneurship, technology transfer and capacity building.
He added that strengthening the connection between education, research and practical farming could help create a more productive and resilient agricultural system in Nigeria.
The Nigeria-Thailand partnership is therefore expected to contribute to efforts aimed at improving food security, supporting agricultural innovation and creating new opportunities for people involved in the agricultural value chain.
As Nigeria continues to seek ways to increase domestic food production, partnerships that combine research, technology and human capacity could become increasingly important to the country’s long-term agricultural development.
