Stakeholders, experts, at MOUAU summit, harp on the need for agricultural mechanization in Nigeria
By Lawrence Nwimo
Experts and major stakeholders in the Nigerian agricultural sector have brainstormed on charting a new direction in agricultural mechanization in the country, at the end of which they proffered scientifically proven solution.
Unveiling this at a conference organized recently by the Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, and having as its theme: “Mechanization of Root and Tubers Production and Processing in Nigeria,” the professionals from diverse fields said the conference would help the government at all levels to ensure self-sufficiency in food production, create employment opportunities, make raw materials available for agro industries, increase GDP and foreign exchange.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director General/CEO, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Mohammed Jibrin, welcomed the scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, teacher and professors in the agriculture and agricultural engineering sector as well as distinguished farmers, food processors and other stakeholders which according to their professional activities contribute to the enhancement of roots and tuber production and processing in Nigeria.
He noted that the future prospects of agricultural mechanization in Nigeria strongly rest on the development of machines and equipment locally, along with the adaptation of new designs and innovation in agricultural mechanization technology from imported equipment and machines and the building and development of expertise for maintenance and repair of powered machines.
His words: “Importance of agricultural mechanism for the enhancement of roots and tuber crops production in the country is further magnified by the present realities of want and hunger. Our work is therefore to bring our brains to bear and evolve appropriate machines and system for revolutionizing the cultivation and production of roots and tuber crops.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, a Professor of Industrial Chemistry and the Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State said that the theme of the conference was imperative, especially now that the economy of the country is facing a lot of challenges. He further expressed optimism that the outcome of the conference will help to provide solution to our country’s multifarious economic problems.
In his welcome speech, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Francis Otunta, described farming as the key to prosperity. “Thus participants of this great conference must address all major issues related to technology transfer and commercialization modalities so that venture capitalists, funds from internal and external sources can be attracted towards strategic investments in the area of food production, processing, packaging and marketing of our food products especially roots, tubers and other high ranking crops whose commercial prospects have already been proven in our technology incubation centres (TICs) nationwide,” he added.
In his address, the special guest of honour, Dr Ahmed Adekunle, Senior Technical Adviser to Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Chairman, Advisory Ministerial Mechanization Committee (AMMC), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, challenged the participants to not just look at the problems of Nigeria mechanization today but to focus on the practical and sustainable solutions to those problems and to engage with the relevant stakeholders to implement the outcome.
Nwimo is an NCE student of FCET, Umunze.