The National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin, has called on government at all levels to resuscitate agricultural practices in all primary and post-primary schools in order to boost the interest of youths in the ancient profession.
The Executive Director, Dr. AbdulGafar Kamaldeen, made this call while addressing journalists. He noted that demonstration farms should be re-introduced into schools as a matter of policy, saying it is an area of advantage the country should no longer neglect as a nation that has attained the age of 63.
NCAM is saddled with the responsibility of nurturing an appropriate and dynamic science and engineering infrastructure for the development of relevant home-initiated and home-sustaining industrialization in Nigeria.
LASP Supports Secondary Schools with Integrated SAP System
Kamaldeen noted that the return of the practice will serve a dual purpose of food production and the acquisition of agriculture skills by the nation’s youths, while also soliciting more patronage from states and local governments to sponsor trainees to the Center for proper and modern knowledge on agricultural mechanization.
According to him, unlike before, when cutlasses and hoes were being used, NCAM has produced enough machines needed at various stages of agricultural practices, from planting to harvesting levels, through the professional work of its skilled personnel.
Lagos State Launches Eko Agro Mechanization Initiative
The NCAM boss canvassed more support for the President Bola Tinubu-led government, noting that through patience and endurance, Nigeria will get to its socio-political and economic blossoming moments.
While describing Nigeria as an ‘oil producing but not oil rich’ nation, Kamaldeen expressed optimism that if agricultural exploits in the country are well planned, the sector will serve as one of the tripods upon which the nation’s economy is standing to boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
