Benue State Government Partners India In Agriculture,Poverty Alleviation And Economic Development.

Benue state government is to partner India in agriculture, poverty alleviation and other areas of economic interest.

This was made known during a dinner hosted by the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, for Governor Gabriel Suswam at the Indian High Commission in Abuja at the weekend.

Speaking at the event, the High Commissioner said India's choice of Benue state for the partnership was informed by the abundant human and natural resources the state is blessed with saying: "Benue state has the potential of becoming the 'bread basket' of Nigeria."

"Being a tropical country with fertile land and plenty of unregulated irrigation that can be managed, I think Benue shares a lot of these conditions with India which can be turned into fruitful use for the benefit of both."

According to Sachdev, the partnership, which emphasis is on agriculture and poverty alleviation, would seek to showcase to Benue the Indian model of 'Green Revolution' which involves the introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds and irrigation. He revealed that a delegation from Benue state would be expected to travel to India next month to participate in this year's edition of the Indian Food Fair known as the "Aahar International Food and Hospitality Fair 2013."

Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswam, accompanied to the dinner by his wife, Yemisi, and some cabinet members, said his government had already put structures in place that would enhance the partnership with India.

Describing India as a developing country that has grown ahead of her peers, Suswam said: "The President recently commissioned a number of structures in Benue state which would make it easier for us to go into partnership India."

Apart from agriculture, Suswam who expressed willingness of the state to participate at the forthcoming Indian Food Fair, said other expected benefits from the partnership with India are in the areas of health, education, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and poverty alleviation.

Source DailyTrust