Agriculture
Institution Urges Local Fabrication Of Farm Implements
The Nigerian Institution of
Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), has said that local fabrication of machines was a dependable means for providing the nation’s farmers with affordable farming machines and equipment.
The Chairman of the Abuja Chapter of the institution, Mr. Aderemi Adegbola, stated this in Abuja on Monday during a news conference.
Adegbola said that it was unfortunate that most of the farmers in the country were still engaged in subsistence farming, while those involving in mechanised farming were using imported equipment.
“Until we begin to produce equipment locally, it would not be affordable for our local farmers. These days, nobody wants to do farming with the crude methods of our forefathers, everybody wants to use machines for ridges, to plant and harvest but when you cannot afford these machines you will be forced to use manual labour,” he said. Adegbola said that the country would not be able to produce enough food to feed the populace, without using the mechanised method of farming.
“Most of the industrialised nations of the world like China, U.S. and others are highly involved in mechanised agriculture and that is why they can produce food and agricultural materials in large quantities to feed their people. A poorly fed nation will definitely have a poor economy because hungry people cannot think properly about ways of improving of the economy,” he said.
He said the Abuja chapter of the institute has held its annual general meeting at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.
AGM in Abuja expressed the hope that the conference with the theme: “Agricultural Mechanisation and Food Security in Nigeria”, would encourage engineers to start manufacturing machines locally.
“Our focus for the event was to look at the role mechanical engineers in Nigeria can play to provide equipment that will improve the capacity and outputs of our farmers. It is also to came up with ideas on how we could collaborate with our farmers and also help them in mechanised agriculture. When you have mechanised farming, the cost of farming will reduce and people can buy food at affordable prices and the nation will be the better for it,” he said.
He added that the meeting strives to strengthen the relationship among members; elect its new executive members and brief the public on its activities and achievements.
Adegbola said that within the institution’s one year of existence, it had made some remarkable achievements in line with its objective and vision to improve on the well being of the Nigerian society.
In this drive the society carried out industrial visits to the Geregu Thermal Power Plant, Ajaokuta Steel Complex and the Nigeria Gas Company, Warri, in the drive to assist the government in finding solutions to the problems of the power plants in the country.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
