No fewer than 400 Nigerian government officials have undergone agricultural technical training programmes sponsored by the Chinese Government through its initiative, Green Agriculture West Africa Limited.

According to a report from the Chinese embassy on Sunday, the programmes were meant to enhance the agricultural exchange and cooperation between China and Nigeria.

The company which embarked on agriculture investment by establishing Green Agriculture West Africa Limited in Nigeria produces and supplies rice seeds and also develops a diversified seed business based on the local planting structure.

The report read, “In order to enhance the agricultural exchange and cooperation between China and Nigeria since 2016, company has undertaken the agricultural technical training programmes sponsored by the Chinese Government and trained over 400 governmental officials from across Nigeria.”

According to the report, the company also set up seven seed production cooperatives with more than 5,000 small-holder farmers in Nigeria, through training and disseminating rice and maize seed production techniques to local farmers.

“Currently our company has an annual seed production capacity of over 10,000 Metric Tonnes,” the report added.

The firm also disclosed that its high-yield rice variety – GAWAL R1 in Nigeria, has an average yield of over 30% when compared to the most popular local rice variety.

It added that the initiative has also established the CGCOC Agriculture High-tech Abuja Industrial Park in Abuja, as part of the efforts to support Nigeria’s food security.

The park also acts as the project site of the China-Aid Nigerian Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center which was completed in December 2022.