[SPECIAL REPORT]
By NEETA BAPORIKAR*
Introduction
Agriculture worldwide is a primary and
fundamental sector which aids self-suffi ciency
and fuels economic development. It is all
the more crucial and important benchmark
for emerging and developing economies.
So is it in Nigeria. Though as a country
Nigeria is blessed with several agricultural
produce, yet it is beset with high levels of
agricultural imports which is a concern.
Hence, the government needs to devise ways
and means to resolve this concern which is
possible by ensuring agricultural infrastructure
development including seeding, horticulture
and equipment. This is also the window
where a bilateral perspective for Nigeria-India
agrarian sector opens up clearly. Further, the
fact that India has been recorded as one of
the top four agriculturally advanced countries
following Russia, USA and China respectively
(Simpson, 2010), Nigeria’s relationship with
India is also being swotted.
Framework for Cooperation
Nigeria and India have been highly linked
and coordinated in various aspects. This is
evident from the following:
• India is the largest trading partner of
Nigeria and Nigeria is India’s largest trading
partner in Africa
• The bilateral trade in 2015-16 declined by
25 percent to $12.17 billion as against $16.36
billion recorded during 2014-15
Nigeria-India• 2018 • 17