Seven years ago a small group of Zimbabweans were invited to lead Nigeria’s green revolution. Forced off their farms by Robert Mugabe’s land reforms, this was their chance to start again.

The offer from the west Nigerian state of Kwara was an attractive one. Fertile land, generous loans and political backing in return for their expertise.

The Zimbabweans needed work and the Nigerians wanted to show that Africa’s economic giant could move from importing almost all of its food to feeding itself. On paper at least it appeared a good match.

“People said you’re crazy to go up there,” Pete du Toit, one of the farmers says with a smile as he remembers the first discussions in 2004. “The impression we had of Nigeria at that stage was very bad. Crime, drugs, corruption.”

source/full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14528642

Posted August 24th, 2011 at 11:01 am in category Odurinde. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.