The Edo state government discussed an agribusiness partnership with Botswana

The Edo State Government seeks to establish partnerships with Botswana in the fields of agriculture and livestock. This initiative aims to attract foreign investment ahead of the upcoming International Agriculture and Livestock Investment Summit.

The meeting took place on Friday at the High Commission of Botswana in Abuja. The Edo State delegation was led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Jerry Uwangwe, and the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mr. Ohimai Ehijimetor. The delegation also included the Special Adviser on Livestock Development, Roland Igbadumhe, the Senior Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Emmanuel Sule, and the Director of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Lucky Adebudo. Botswana was represented by the High Commissioner to Nigeria, Philda Kereng.

During the talks, the High Commissioner supported the state authorities' work on livestock development and advised exploring opportunities for investment in agritourism and the production of animal feed. The latter direction plays an important role in the livestock sector, as accessible and high-quality feed increases productivity and reduces costs for farmers. In turn, agritourism makes it possible to combine agricultural activities with tourism, creating additional sources of income for rural enterprises.

Philda Kereng promised the assistance of the High Commission of Botswana in attracting investors to the planned summit. As noted in a joint statement by the commissioners published on Sunday, the past meeting is part of a series of consultations with diplomatic missions to ensure international participation in the upcoming event.

It is expected that the upcoming summit will provide a platform for exploring investment opportunities in such areas as agriculture, livestock, feed production, and related business areas in Edo State. These contacts with the diplomatic mission reflect the region's desire to build international partnerships to attract capital, technical expertise, and commercial participation in the agricultural and livestock sectors.