China and Nigeria last week signed an agreement worth US$22.7 million to share knowledge and experience in food production.

More than 500 Chinese experts will work in rural parts of Nigeria under the programme, which is being run by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Experts from both countries will jointly develop projects aimed at safeguarding food security, such as water control initiatives, systems that boost crops, and diversifying crop production.

The initiative is the largest programme to be developed under the FAO's South-South Cooperation programme, which aims to strengthen collaboration between countries at different stages of development.

Nigeria is meeting the full costs of the programme, which spans all 36 states of Nigeria and will affect 23,000 rural households.

© SciDev.Net 2003

Related external links:

Food and Agricultural Organisation
FAO's Special Programme for Food Security
South-South Cooperation

Photo credit: FAO photo