Proposals

Recently we have developed a plan together with our partner Budapest Corvinus University, the leading Central-European University, having faculties of horticultural production and food science and technology for upgrading of competitiveness of agricultural sector for Nigerian state governments namely Sokoto state, Kebbi state, Zamfara state and Kano state who is going to co-operate with us. In this way the university could serve as a scientific background of agricultural project, in framework of a team-work approach offering different services and on-site consultation, from analysis of agro-ecological potential of production (e.g. soil-analysis, water -resource management planning) to the determination of varieties, phitosanitary measures, simple methods of preservation or processing, logistics and marketing. According to our idea a complex system would be desirable, according to 'from farm to fork' approach, taking into consideration the specific features of Nigeria. Ultimate Green Solution also initiated the draft agreement for cooperation between several universities in Nigeria and several African countries. We look forward to work very close with these following universities in a very short time, Kebbistate University of Science and Technology Aleiro, Bayero University Kano and University of Abuja.

As it is rather hard to sketch a complex project of a long-term cooperation, we are practically ready at any time to meet personally to discuss the details of our cooperation.

project proposal for upgrading of competitiveness of agro-food sector of Nigeria with a special emphasis of state proposed together with Corvinus University
This proposal is based on economic analysis of world market tendencies as well as on personal experiences of authors on Nigerian agro-food sector.

1. General tendencies on the world agro-food market

   1. Increasing imbalance between supply and paying demand,
   2. Decreasing prices of agricultural raw materials in real terms,
   3. Gaining importance of processing. In the world export the share of processed products to raw material is 80%, in case on Nigeria this share is lesser than 1.5%,
   4. Increasing importance of concentration and agricultural producers' cooperatives

2. Current strengths of Nigerian agriculture:

   1. Favourable agro-ecological and genetic potential to produce high-quality, specific products, hardly or absolute not known in a considerable part of Europe
   2. Relatively cheap living labour, offering the possibility of production of labour-intensive processed products,
   3. Extremely rich culture, offering the possibility of joining of agro-food production with tourisms

3. Goals of the project:

   1. Establishment of a model-farm preferably at Bayero University, Department of Agriculture, where the locally applicable methods of modern agricultural production as well as food processing could be demonstrated. This model-farm could serve as a centre of knowledge dissemination for another counties and farmers, based on human resources of Faculty of Food Economics of Budapest Corvinus University (www.uni-corvinus.hu), with close cooperation with your State University and the technological development will be carried out on base of analytical and technology-development capacities of Budapest Corvinus University.
   2. Base on product-samples, obtained from agricultural producers, the Food Science and Technology Faculty will carry over a detailed analysis of these samples from point of view of nutritional quality of these grains and work out a suggestion for integration of these products in European consumption patterns, with special emphasis on mainstream trend of healthy eating. A short report about these products and their marketing possibilities will be delivered to the appropriate Ministry.
   3. Establishment of a series of short-term courses of local officials, and processors in fields as follows:
      1. Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems and ISO 9000 quality control systems/ the application of these system is a necessary precondition of exporting into the EU,
      2. Locally applicable methods of production, using relatively simple, but robust and reliable technologies,
      3. Development of collective marketing systems, and some local brands for marketing of agro-food products, in line with the demand of world market.
   4. Young specialist are welcome to Budapest Corvinus University to participate in MSc and PhD courses in field of food science and technology, with specific emphasis on development of food preservation and storage systems, quality management and marketing.
   5. The Budapest Corvinus University organises study tour for a group of local specialists.

4. Organisational and financial aspects:

   1. Budapest Corvinus University and Kano State government commit themselves to cooperate in project of upgrading of competitiveness of food and agricultural system of Nigeria by development of Kano state. In framework of this strategic alliance both parties are supposed to mobilise their resources with purpose of
      1. Achievement of short-term (relatively low-budget) goals of the project,
      2. Joint application to involve 'third party' support for realisation of long-terms relatively more cost-intensive parts of the project,
   2. In Budapest Corvinus University a special task group will be formed to act as a team to run the project.
   3. Kano State needs to act as co-finance of this project, because without the lack of own shares any outside financial support is un-available.
   4. The project will constantly scan the different possibilities of involvement of 'third party' financial resources. With this purpose the institutions as follows will be searched:
      1. Food and Agricultural Organisation of UN (FAO regional headquarters in Budapest),
      2. European Union-different support programs for rural development, aiming at increasing the relationships between EU and African countries - the Budapest Corvinus University has a wide range of experiences in organisation and running of these-type projects, because this University has taken part in Asia-link project of the EU with partners from Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam.
      3. World Band projects for financial support of regional development initiatives.