SAFER for Africa – Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Risk-management

Successful workshop in Abuja/Nigeria:

On 13.12.2016 in Abuja, Nigeria a workshop “SAFER for Africa – Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Risk-management” took place at the International Congress Center in Abuja/Nigeria. Under the umbrella of the Guests of Honor, beside others Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development about 50 high ranked guest listened and discussed to the presentations of a consortium of companies under the consortium leader PROGIS of Austria/Villach. An introduction speech was given by Dr. Scholz, the former Ambassador of Austria in Nigeria and Head of Development Department of the Ministry of External Affairs in Vienna followed by George Umobi, the local PROGIS partner with an introcution to the local markets, its needs and technologies that can support farmers.

Technology was introduced by Walter H. MAYER, CEO of PROGIS: “PROGIS Integrated Agro solutions and EC satellite modules”, further by Dr. Ovidiu Vladu, President of IQ Group: Agricultural Biodata and economic diversification “Livestock data Management Systems”.

KPV Solar told about “Solar technology, an alternative rural area power solution”, Pessl systems spoke about “Weather stations – Case study in Mali” and MECA, the Nigerian JV between Naseni, PROGIS and other local partners spoke about “Machinery Import into Nigeria from a Customs Free Zone in Europe, probably Villach/Austria”.

The meeting closed with the establishment of a 12 people working group that until 31.1.2017 will present the result to the President of Nigeria, HE Muhammadu BUHARI a study about the needed next steps to introduce these technologies to the Nigerian market as pilot for Western Africa. The workgroup will meet several times during January and is under the guidance of George Umobi, the local PROGIS partner.

On 7.2. 2017 in an additional workshop in Abuja the members of the working group and up to 300 additional experts will join an upgarde meeting to define the details for the Nigerian projects. WE will report after the meeting the details.   

PROGIS will together with the Club of Ossiach and GFAR, the Global Forum of Agricultural Research located at the FAO premises in Rome/Italy at 6. and 7. Of April have a similar workshop in East-Africa, probably in Kigali / Rwanda.