The need for farmers to embrace and adopt mechanization and to do away with manual implements so as to boost productivity and to increase local capacity towards self- sufficiency in local food production have been reemphasized.
The charge was made by the Interim Head of Mechanization at International Institutes of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Mr. Peter Kolawole recently when members of Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABEOCCIMA) led by its President, Sir Jare Oyesola paid an on the site tour to the age long tropical region.
Meanwhile, it is not far fetched that Nigeria is listed among the least countries in the world with mechanized farming. The rate of the use of agricultural machinery is still below that which is considered necessary to meet the rising demand for food.
While addressing members of the Chamber, Mr. Kolawole opined that the International Institutes of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is committed towards providing high quality machinery and appropriate technology suitable for all types of farming operation in Nigeria most especially in the area of Cassava Commercialization and its value chains.
Mr. Kolawole while introducing the new Mobile Cassava Processing Plants to members of the Chamber, he said farming can be made profitable and attractive if the new technology is embraced to enhance production.
He stressed further that the new Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Cassava Compact Mobile Processing Plant would serve as an alternative investment approach for the private sector as the problems associated with investments in Agriculture, expensive processing, building, insufficient power supply and a whole lot more could be averted.
He reiterated that the mechanized Cassava Processing Plant is specially constructed and consists of modern processing machinery and an electricity generation that is housed on a six – wheel machinery Carrier equiped with a loader crane which could be moved to the local Cassava Processing location and tailored towards ensuring shelf-stable market-demand products such as high quality garri fufu, flour etc.
On his part, the head of the delegation and President of ABEOCCIMA, Sir Jare Oyesola said farm cultivation and cassava production can be substantially increased through mechanization, which is labour saving and directly increases yields and production.
He stressed that the labour invested could be better used for other productive activities along its value chains as youths could be better employed to drastically reduce the rates of unemployment in the country.
He thereafter expressed satisfaction of a brighter future for agriculture and its value chains with the new mechanized machineries.
He appreciated IITA for the warm reception and however used the opportunity to seek for more collaboration between the two parties to boost productivity and gross income of the country through agriculture.
In conclusion, the President seek for grants facilitations from IITA to strengthen the productive capacity of smallholders farmers in the seven catchments of Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ogun State and Nigeria as a whole to aid food sufficiency and self – sustainable.
Some members of Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce and Industry in attendance during the visit include; Iyalode Alaba Lawson (Former NACCIMA President), Otunba A. Babs Adesanya, Engr. Lekan Jiboku, Asiwaju Dapo Wahab, Professor Adetoun Amubode, Mr. Daniel Ajayi, Dr. (Mrs) Damilola Oyesola, Elder Taiwo Jiboku, Alhaji R.O. Maku (ABEOCCIMA Executive Secretary), Mr. Timothy Shorunke, Mr. Hunga Daniel, Tom Ogundimu, Prince Olumide Agbasi, Dr. Sunday Oke among others.
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