The Peoples Republic of China has expressed its readiness to a partnership with Nigeria to boost food production in the country.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Zhou Pingjian, who made the promise said the support would come through the provision of loan facilities to small and medium scale farmers and manufacturers through the China Development Bank.
He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he paid a visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh.
Pingjian said the bank had over N10 billion which could be loaned to farmers and manufacturers in the country to boost agricultural production.
“This visit and partnership is the aftermath of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to China.
“This loan facility will work just like the Anchor Borrowers scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“Agriculture is one of the priority areas that we want to support Nigeria,’’ he said.
Ogbeh appealed to the Chinese Government to assist the country in developing processing machines that could facilitate mechanised agriculture.
He listed some agricultural products that needed adequate processing to meet international standards.
“We have so many young people in Nigeria that we want to leverage this opportunity of the support to establish.
“This will help to boost our economy,’’ the minister said.