The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah, has pleaded with Vietnam to assist Nigeria in the area of rice production, saying Nigeria can feed itself and export if only rice is well cultivated.

Speaking at the second Vietnam-Africa International Forum (VAIF) that was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, the minister said Nigeria has the potential to feed its population because 4.6 billion hectares of land suitable for rice cultivation is grossly under utilized.

Represented by the Director Agro-Processing and Marketing, Engr. Moses Adewuyi, the minster also called for co-operation of the Vietnamese experts and technology transfer in rice production and the development of agriculture in general through different channels.

"Agro-Industrialization has been identified as the engine of economic growth and development for Nigeria given her present economic status," he stressed.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Najeem Awodele, said agro-industrialization is a sure way of boosting agriculture and achieving food security, poverty alleviation as well as creating wealth.

A statement from the ministry says that the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung, said the future is bright for stronger traditional friendship ties and co-operation with Africa although challenges abound.

He explained that the areas of co-operation include agriculture, education, training, energy, healthcare, labour, investment and infrastructure.

"Vietnam is capable of rendering help and assistance to developing African nations based on past experiences of Vietnam's protracted war. It has risen above its challenge of poverty and lack to huge production of food, especially rice, which Vietnam is presently the 2nd major exporter," Dung added.