Caribbean countries have stepped forward to assist Nigeria in bolstering its food security by sharing their agricultural knowledge and skills.
Dr. Levi Odoe, Consular General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, revealed this during a recent briefing aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s food production, as reported by Vanguard.
Odoe underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Caribbean, with a particular focus on agriculture alongside the oil and gas sector.
He stressed the urgency of addressing global food security concerns and urged the Nigerian government to revive subsistence farming practices, encouraging citizens to cultivate backyard gardens.
The Consular General pointed out that Nigerian entrepreneurs have significant opportunities to expand their exports to Caribbean countries, facilitated by the South-South Cooperation.
He noted that some Nigerian businesses have already successfully exported goods to nations like the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, and Guyana.
Highlighting the agricultural collaboration, Odoe mentioned that certain Caribbean countries have leased land in Nigeria for farming, with the produce being shipped back to their home countries.
However, he emphasized the need to eliminate trade barriers, such as the lack of direct flight routes, which hinder smooth relations between the Caribbean and Africa.
Odoe expressed optimism about the future of cooperation, noting that Nigeria’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) opens doors for Nigerian products to reach Caribbean, South, and Latin American markets.
He shared an example of Nigerian footwear being imported into Venezuela, demonstrating the potential for expanded trade.
“Bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Caribbean should incorporate agriculture and not just the oil gas sector as food security has become urgent around the world.
“I think by a simple method of backyard garden we would have plants in the market and more food. We need to revive the culture of encouraging subsistence farming of okro, melon, cassava, yam, and raise animals like fowl, sheep, and goats to sustain themselves.
“Agricultural products like yam from Nigeria needed to be packaged to international standards and sold abroad. Chamber of commerce and international organisations should look for market for Nigerian products. The Caribbean, Latin and South America is a huge market for Nigeria.
“Nigerian products as a member of the WTO can be brought to the Caribbean, South and Latin American countries. I went to Venezuela and I saw some footwear imported from Nigeria.
“We have to remove all the bottlenecks to trade relationship between Caribbean and Africa, and when you talk about Africa is Nigeria as the most populous black nation on earth. If Nigeria fails, the rest of the black race has failed. With Nigeria succeeding, the rest of the back succeeds. We in the Caribbean are family with Nigeria.
“From Nigeria to Cape Verde is a six-hour flight, but if you want to travel to the Caribbean now you have to first go to London for six hours and then from London to the Caribbeans another eight hours or you go via the USA. And to even get their transit visa is almost impossible,” he said.
