By GBENGA OLARINOYE
OSOGBO – Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday, opened discussions with German state of Saxony Anhalt as part of the state's determination to boost its comprehensive agricultural programme.
Aregbesola, who led top government functionaries saddled with the massive food production project of his administration to the talks in Germany, has banishment of hunger as one of the six integral plans of his government.
A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the delegation left Nigeria Saturday and arrived in Germany Sunday for the talks.
It quoted the governor as reassuring the people of the state of determination of his administration to turn the state to the food basket of the country.
The Governor of the State of Osun is the first governor from the African continent to be in Germany on the invitation of a German state governor known as Minister President for such bilateral talks.
The Agriculture Minister of the State of Saxony Anhalt, Dr. Hermanne Onko Aikens, is leading talks with Aregbesola on how the two states can explore areas of cooperation on agricultural investments in the state of Osun.
In company with the Governor of the state of Osun is the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Wale Adedoyin; Coordinator of the state's Quick Impact Intervention Programme, Mr. Dele Ogundipe and others.
In November last year, Governor Aregbesola had led another delegation to Zambia on drive to establish abattoir-based massive beef production project in the state.
The beef production project, called O'Beef, has already commenced in the state with leading foreign experts in beef production training interested farmers on how to produce beef in a project aimed at ensuring high income from the venture.
Vanguard Nigeria