The meeting between Vice President Shettima and John Deere’s representatives was facilitated by Mr. John Coumantaros, the Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria, The meeting was attended by Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, Ambassador Lot Egopija, the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, and other key stakeholders.
During the meeting, Vice President Shettima emphasized the crucial role of mechanization in achieving self-sufficiency in food production. He highlighted the three essential elements for success in the agricultural sector: certified seeds, mechanization, access to fertilizers, and agricultural extension services. Shettima also discussed the potential of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) and how investors can contribute to Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
A senior executive from John Deere, Mr. Jason Brantley, expressed the company’s commitment to setting up a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria. He clarified that this initiative would not require direct government investment but rather credit guarantees to facilitate affordable credit access for interested individuals or groups.
