Agriculture has long been neglected in Nigeria, although the conditions for growing virtually all tropical crops are incredibly favorable. The administration of Gov. Agbu Kefas has already declared the revival of the sector and made the rehabilitation of agriculture one of the government's priorities. Apart from foreign investment, the sector mainly needs to be mechanized and supported by building facilities and infrastructure. Agricultural machinery is in demand, as well as machinery for crop and livestock processing. There is also a lack of warehouses, granaries, cold stores, freezing plants, as well as expertise in appropriate methods for increasing production and irrigation. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of crops go to waste each year because farmers do not have the technical means to harvest crops on time, transport them over broken roads, process them quickly, or store them for further use or export. Alongside other constraints such as security or climate change, these are the main challenges facing Nigerian agriculture at the moment. Czech-Nigerian agricultural relations began to develop rapidly after the visit of the Minister of Agriculture Marian Jurečka in May 2016. The interest of Nigerian entrepreneurs and government officials in Czech quality and know-how is still very lively. Last summer, the Nigerian University of Jos concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Czech University of Life Sciences. The main subject of cooperation is the exchange of knowledge on the most suitable potato varieties for the tropical plateau around Jos. Discussions are also underway on irrigation projects in the north of the country. Nigeria's rapidly growing population is understandably calling for increased crop and livestock production. Among the established suppliers of poultry and cattle feed is the Czech company B27 International. However, tractors remain the main commodity in demand to increase agricultural production. The Czech company Knights has been successful in the market, having won contracts to supply small tractors from producers Vari and Šálek in the Nigerian federal states of Taraba and Niger. Both states, with the support of the Czech Embassy in Abuja, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and of course, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, sent delegations to Prague. They had the opportunity to see firsthand the range of Vari and Šálek tractors, specially designed for African soil and the needs of local farmers. The Taraba project in particular has already been brought to a successful conclusion. The first and second tranches of GLOBAL and CABRIO tractors are already in Nigeria and have been distributed to farmers across the state. The goods were completely in place in early autumn, and the Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Zdeněk Krejčí, attended the handover ceremony. Together with Czech companies, this collaboration is moving bilateral agricultural relations to the next level and will be an incentive for other potential partners among Czech agricultural equipment manufacturers. In response to the rising cost of food commodities, the state launched an ambitious grain aggregation program targeting 10,000 metric tons of assorted grains. Under this buffer stock initiative, grains are purchased and distributed strategically to stabilize prices and ensure food availability for residents, particularly during lean periods. Governor Kefas has prioritized animal health through a comprehensive vaccination program across the state. The procurement and administration of anthrax spore vaccines are ensuring the safety of livestock, protecting them from diseases, and improving overall productivity in the livestock sector. Reconstruction and revamping of the Jalingo greenhouse. In a bid to boost horticultural production and reduce the reliance on imported vegetables.
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