Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria and Brazil have moved from diplomatic engagements to the implementation phase of their agriculture and livestock partnership, following agreements reached during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil.
Speaking at a Nigeria-Brazil Agro-Trade Market Access Milestone meeting in Abuja, Shettima said the partnership had progressed from dialogue to concrete action through the operational rollout of agreements reached under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism. He noted that the initiative was expected to create new opportunities for farmers, processors, exporters and investors in both countries.
According to the Vice President, the Joint Agriculture and Livestock Technical Working Group established under the partnership is now operational, with sub-groups focusing on dairy and livestock genetics, soybean productivity, agricultural policy and agro-climatic risk zoning. He added that the progress reflected months of collaboration between government agencies, technical experts and private sector stakeholders.
Shettima said the true measure of international cooperation lies in implementation and the benefits delivered to citizens rather than the number of agreements signed. He also commended Brazil for strengthening institutional cooperation with Nigeria through the appointment of an Agricultural Attaché and closer collaboration with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA).
Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André Carlos Alves de Paula Filho, said the partnership had already begun yielding results. He announced that Brazil would open its market to Nigerian exports of hibiscus, sesame and shea butter, adding that technical officials were finalising the phytosanitary certification needed to facilitate the exports.
He further disclosed that Brazil would support Nigerian exporters by linking them with potential buyers in the Brazilian market, creating commercial opportunities for the selected agricultural products.
Also speaking, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described Brazil as a global model for agricultural transformation and expressed confidence that the renewed partnership would significantly boost Nigeria’s agricultural exports. Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi also pledged support for the initiative, noting that the state accounts for about 75 per cent of Nigeria’s non-oil exports.
