The Osun State Government and the State of Saxony-Anhalt in the Federal Republic of Germany are working towards a partnership on agriculture.

At a dinner in honour of seven German experts in agriculture, held at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said he was eager to see how the experts could improve agriculture in the state.

The experts are on a week’s visit to the state to return a visit by officials of the Osun State Government, led by the governor, to the German state in May.

Aregbesola said: “I am full of expectation of the prospects this relationship will bring to our people and your state. At the end, the potentials of our state would be harnessed for rapid development.

“The state is full of potentials that can be tapped. We have abundant mineral resources and a rich culture. I am eager to see how your expertise can enhance farming here through the transfer of knowledge by training and technology.

“I am full of expectations and believe your visit will be mutually beneficial to both parties.”

He urged the experts not to limit themselves to farming, but to exploit other potentials of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the experts, the Dean of the Martin Luther King University, Halley, Prof. Peter Wycsk, assured the governor that their visit would lead to an effective collaboration between both states and improve Osun’s economy.

Wycsk said they would study Osun’s agricultural programmes and suggest ways to improve them.

He said: “We have come here to give you our best and that is not money, but knowledge.”

The experts will tour the Cattle Ranch at Oloba Farm, the Iwo Farm Settlement, the Toro Farm in Iwo and the Feg-Agro Farm in Iloko-Ijesha, among others.

There will also be a technical review session involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment and the Osun State University.

Based on the impending global food shortage, German experts have assured the government of the State of Osun of its assistance in improving agricultural practice in the state.

The team of experts made up of 7-men was drawn from German agriculture sector, farmers' co-operative system soil scientists, animal husbandry and other areas. The partnership is said to be between the Government of Osun and the German State of Saxony Anhalt.

This came to fore when Governor Rauf Aregbesola received the team at the Government House on Sunday, saying that the collaboration effort between Osun and Saxon Anhalt State hinges mainly on how to improve agriculture and food security of Osun.

Aregbesola hinted that his visit to the German state earlier in May 2012 brought about the agreement and the visit of the experts.
The cooperation, described as first of its kind in Nigeria, is expected to concentrate on how to modernise, mechanise and improve on the existing agricultural activities of the state, and also guaranteeing increased food security for the people of the state.

During their one-week stay, the German experts will visit the Cattle Ranch at Oloba Farm, Iwo Farm Settlement,Toro Farm in Iwo and Feg-Agro Farm in Iloko-Ijesha to mention a few.

Also, there will be technical review session involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives and empowerment and the Osun State University.

The governor therefore solicited for the help of the Germans noting that the state was well endowed with resources yet untapped in the area of agriculture.
"The state is full of potential that can be tapped. We have abundant mineral resources and rich culture.
"I am eager to see how your expertise can enhance farming potential of our people through transfer of knowledge by training and technology.

"I am full of expectation and believe that your visit will be mutually beneficial to both our people and your people; our state and your state and our country and your country," Aregbesola stated.

On his part, the spokesperson for the delegate, Professor Peter Wyscle said they would engage and discuss intensely on the existing agriculture efforts of the government and proffer possible solutions.
Wyscle affirmed that his team expected to see impressive situations on how thing are and seek possible improvement.

He added, "We've come here to give you the best thing we have. And that is not money but knowledge.”
Already, the team, led by officials of the state government has commenced its state-wide tour of agricultural projects in the state today (Monday).