Egypt is showing interest in Ogun’s Agro Processing Zone, APZ, Gov. Dapo Abiodun disclosed Saturday in Abeokuta.
The APZ is located at the Gateway International Agro Cargo Airport, Iperu-Ilishan Remo part of the state.
Abiodun told executive officers of the Ogun chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, at an interactive session that Egypt is finalising plans to have farm plantations in the zone.
He said the North African country planned to plant crops, process the harvest and export finished products to Egypt.
He added that representatives of the Egyptian government would visit Ogun soon to finalise details of the investment.
“I met with the National President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria in Abuja. He is working with a team of farmers sent by the Egyptian government.
“Egypt has a food security programme and has identified Ogun as one of the states to partner with.
“Representatives of the Egyptian government in agriculture will be coming to Ogun on May 16.
“They have done their research and were convinced that Ogun is one of the states strategically located to invest in; to farm in; to process in and to export from,’’ Abiodun said.
He assured that his administration was determined to encourage foreign and local investors in agriculture.
He also assured AFAN that government would look into its proposal to start a state-owned Anchor Borrowers Programme.
The programme seeks to provide loans in kind and in cash for smallholder farmers to boost agricultural production, create jobs, and reduce food import bills.
Abiodun also promised to also look into the possibility of appointing AFAN members into agriculture-related government agencies.
AFAN Vice-President, Mr Segun Dasaolu, said there were lots of opportunities and grants available for Ogun to exploit for the commencement of its own Anchor Borrowers Programme.
Credible News reports that Egypt has a deliberate agric cooperation scheme, partnering to boost food supply across Africa.
Mohamed al-Qersh, spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, told Al-Monitor that the idea of establishing joint farms with African countries is not new.
“The idea dates back to 1995 when a similar project was launched by the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The first of these farms was established in Niger in 1998. This project was deemed one of the Egyptian soft power tools toward consolidating relations, namely in the agricultural field, with the African countries and African clusters.
“The objectives of such projects [to establish joint farms] include enhancing cooperation in the agricultural field with African countries, as well as transferring Egyptian agricultural expertise and technology to African countries, and conducting joint agricultural research aimed at improving the productivity of various crops.
“These farms provide promising opportunities for opening new markets for Egyptian agricultural products and for exporting Egyptian crops and fruits to African countries,” al-Qersh explained.
He noted that Egyptian farm projects also aim to achieve sustainable development in African countries, build capacities and raise the skills of their available cadres in the field of agriculture.
“These projects seek to increase the productivity of African strategic crops, transfer Egyptian agricultural technology, expand the use of agricultural mechanization, support marketing systems, implement partnerships with the Egyptian private sector to invest in African countries and achieve added value for agricultural products,” he said.
Qersh further explained that these joint farms are divided into two types. “The first is the model farms providing extension services. The areas of these farms range from 150 to 500 hectares [370-1,235 acres]. They aim to apply the extension agriculture model on all activities, whether field crops, horticultural, poultry, livestock, fisheries or agricultural production.”
He added: “The second type is the productive farms, whose areas reach more than 1,000 hectares [2,471 acres] and which depend on agricultural investment activity. These farms are subject to the investment laws in the African countries in which they are located.”
Ahmed al-Attar, head of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Central Administration of Plant Quarantine, told Al-Monitor that Egypt has succeeded over the past years in fostering agricultural cooperation with African countries and in restoring its leading role in the continent.
He said: “Egypt has been expanding projects to establish joint farms with African countries. It now owns 22 approved facilities for importing wheat in other countries, including in India, Russia and Ukraine. India, offering high-quality wheat, was chosen as an alternative market in light of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.”
Attar said that Egypt consumes about 20 million tons of wheat annually. “Wheat production in Egypt is at 8 million tons, and is expected to reach 10 million this year. The state imports about 60% of its wheat needs,” he noted.
He added that Egypt has 10 joint model farms in nine African countries, including the joint model farm that is currently being established in South Sudan, and two farms with Zambia — Mwembeshi Farm and Kabwe Farm.
Egypt has also established joint farms in Zanzibar, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Togo, Uganda and Eritrea.
