citybusinessnews@yahoo.com –
Barely two weeks after a business meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Washington DC, United States of America (USA), representative of Agricultural equipment manufacturers, John Deere are in Nigeria to hold further discussions on how to improve agricultural productivity through farmers’ access to mechanization.
Already, the Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Chief Audu Ogbeh has held a meeting with the delegation led by President of John Deere-Africa, Mr. Mark Von Pentz and the Nigerian Agricultural Mechanization & Equipment Leasing Company (NAMEL).
Speaking at Blair House, Washington DC after his White House engagements with President Donald Trump, President Buhari, at a meeting with Chief Executive Officers of six American agricultural companies including John Deere lamented the challenges of the country’s youth with “sixty per cent of the population below 30 years.”
During the meeting with President Buhari and Nigerian delegation in Washington DC, John Deere pledged to set up an assembly plant in Nigeria where 10,000 tractors will be produced in four years.
Meanwhile, speaking at the partnership meeting presided over by Chief Ogbeh in Abuja, Mr. Mark Von Pentz said:”Nigeria is the next super power of Africa in terms of her economic potential and population growth projections. Both present an opportunity to grow as well as a challenge to feed the growing population. Nigeria is blessed with fertile land, good people, and a great climate to make things happen and put the country in prosperity. We are here to establish a meaningful presence and be part of your success story in Agricultural Mechanization”.
The meeting with the Minister was held ahead the official launch of the S.M.A.R.T Model Farm demonstration site on Thursday, May 10th, 2018 in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Under the partnership, the S.M.A.R.T Model Mechanization Farm is a technologically driven agricultural project that offers integrated solutions for smallholder farmers; mechanized agriculture for improved yields; access to finance; reliability and technology/training and designed to make mechanized farming available & affordable to farmers especially the smallholder farmer “who cannot afford to own tractors and other agricultural equipment, at affordable rates”.
A statement issued by the Technical Adviser (New Media) to the Minister, Aishat Ayijimoh Onusi explained that the partnership is expected to help encourage more youths’ participation in Agriculture; increase food production; boost job creation and promotes local content in agricultural mechanization through the establishment of training centres and spare parts assembly plants.
Chief Audu Ogbeh described mechanization as a key strategy to attaining Nigeria’s target in food security and self-sufficiency.
The Minister welcomed the group to Nigeria and thanked them for their willingness to invest in the country’s Agricultural sector.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring high quality standard of equipment designed for the Nigerian farmer, taking into consideration the structure of the soil and climatic conditions.
The minister also stressed the need for training of local tractor operators in proper handling and routine maintenance; and to embed digital tracking systems in the equipment to curb unauthorised use and sustain equipment lifespan.
Unveiling the demonstration site in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Ogbeh said: “Today is a fantastic day. We have dreamt of this for a while and we are happy it is coming into existence today. This triangle of collaboration is the way to go, in our quest to attain food security. With the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari, we are beginning to make headway in the right direction”.
Engr. Adekunle Ahmed, Senior Technical Adviser on Mechanization, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, described the model as a new mechanisation extension programme that has the capacity to increase productivity by 300% and redefine agriculture from a non-profit venture to a profitable business for the smallholder farmer.
“Our tractor population in Nigeria is grossly inadequate. The Hon. Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh has been working tirelessly to solve this problem. Today’s event is a positive turn-around for the Nigerian farmer”, said Engr. Owolabi, Director, Mechanization, Federal Ministry of Agriculture& Rural Development.
“We feel highly honoured to be a part of Nigeria’s revolution in Agriculture. We are ready to provide unique solutions that effectively serve the farmers of Nigeria” – MD, John Deere, Sub-Saharan Africa said during his remarks.
Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission – Engr. Chidi Izuwah, expressed delight about the launch: “We at the ICRC are very pleased to have been part of this positive development in the agricultural sector and we are committed to giving our full support to any such programme involving public-private partnerships”.
