Sustainable Impact Clusters for Protective Horticulture Program launched partnership between the Dutch and Nigeria, focusing on tackling food insecurity, ecological and economic challenges strategically, the food system narratives need to be clear and impactful. Protective horticulture is sustainable, not just for Nigeria but the Dutch agri-food sector as well.
This program is targeted at creating a resilient food system and sustainable opportunities for farmers to maximize resources to tackle food insecurity, and food losses as it builds a better food chain system in horticulture, using Dutch technologies.
Leveraging on the use of Dutch technology in greenhouses, seeds, farm management practices in protective horticulture will increase productivity of short-cycled vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other fruit crops. This will in turn contribute to food security, better income and overall economic benefit for both countries.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets forth the terms and understanding between the Nigerian partners and the Dutch partners) to speed up the implementation of protected cultivation and soilless farming techniques among Nigerian horticulture farmers in Nigeria.
The MOU is to work with a consortium of Dutch companies to create an impact cluster horticulture in South West Nigeria in collaboration with local actors.
Edobong Akpabio Director of Programs Co-chairs the consortium with Bernard Koeckhoven which includes The African Farmers Stories while representing other partners from Nigeria.
The other partners include: African Farmers Stories, Eupepsia place Ltd (Soilless Farm Lab) and JMSF Agribusiness Ltd (are the Nigerian Partners). While Koppert Biological Systems, Pan African Seeds BV, Priva, Viscon, Leiden Delft Erasmus universities and Seed2Feed Foundation (are the Dutch Partners)
The MOU signing was witnessed by Commissioner for Economic Development and Budget allocation Lagos State, Commissioner for Agriculture Lagos State, the Agricultural Adviser to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Special Advisor to Oyo State Government on Agricultural.