Nigeria and Spain have agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture through technology transfer, investment promotion and collaboration in food production, livestock development and preservation.
The agreement was reached when Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, paid a courtesy visit to Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas Puchades, at the Palacio de Fomento in Madrid on Thursday.
Planas, who congratulated Ikpeazu on his appointment and successful presentation of his Letters of Credence to King Felipe VI, said the ambassador’s assumption of duty would further strengthen relations between both countries, particularly in agro-food production, animal health and irrigation.
The minister highlighted Spain’s experience in crop disease prevention and the development of high-yielding improved seedlings, which he said had contributed to increased large-scale agro-food and livestock production.
He noted that Nigeria’s large arable land area presented significant opportunities for expanding food production and developing agricultural value chains.
According to him, Spain’s ability to produce more food than it imports has been supported by the use of improved seedlings, food preservation policies and consumption strategies.
Planas also said innovative technologies contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in food losses in Spain in 2025, adding that further preventive measures were being implemented.
Responding, Ikpeazu said increased agricultural production remained a priority of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in view of Nigeria’s large youth population and the potential of the agricultural value chain.
He said greater utilisation of the sector’s potential would strengthen food security, create employment opportunities and contribute to addressing irregular migration in Africa.
The ambassador commended Spain’s innovations in improved seedling production, livestock development and food preservation, expressing Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with the country to increase agricultural productivity.
Ikpeazu also identified inadequate preservation facilities and transportation networks as factors contributing to food losses in Nigeria, stressing the need for cooperation to address the challenges.
He cited the operations of Spanish company GB Foods in Kebbi and Ogun states as an example of successful Spanish investment in Nigeria, noting that the introduction of improved seedlings had increased tomato yields from about 10 tonnes to more than 60 tonnes per hectare.
The ambassador further expressed Nigeria’s interest in developing animal production for domestic consumption and export, while seeking Spanish partnership in the sector.
Both sides agreed to promote closer collaboration, technology transfer and investment, and committed to facilitating proposals from relevant government agencies and private-sector stakeholders to further strengthen economic relations between Nigeria and Spain.
