0
0
By Abdullah Ahmed
The need to mechanise agricultural sector to increase productivity and enhance Nigeria Gross Domestic Product, GDP, has been stressed.
The Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation, NCAM, Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr Muhydeen Kasali made the observation at the 2021 Agricultural Mechanisation Validation workshop on way forward towards extension of new innovations in agricultural mechanisation research and development.
According to the Executive Director, deployment of appropriate agricultural mechanisation technologies would increase productivity and enhance food security.
Dr. Kasali explained that NCAM had developed several farm implements such as rice, cassava and coffee processing machines, three and four wheel tractors, yam heaps making implement and host of field equipment to boost production.
Dr Muhydeen Kasali, who identified inconsistent government policies and lack of adoption of agricultural mechanisation by farmers as factors affecting agricultural development in the country, appealed to government to subsidize modern farm facilities to help poor farmers.
The Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Muhammed Jaliya enjoined stakeholders and farmers to embrace the use of modern technology for better output.
He also stressed the need to support NCAM in improving agricultural mechanisation to encourage the youth to engage in agricultural business.
The Director of Engineering, NCAM, Dr Isaac Ozumba, who explained that the workshop was to validate previous recommendations and come up with acceptable blue print on agricultural development, called for employment of more extension officers and engineers for better service delivery.
The workshop which had participants across Twenty-one states and the FCT in attendance, featured good will messages from the representatives of some invited institutions and agencies.
