FG to create agric equipment institute in Nasarawa
The Federal Government has approved the establishment of the Agricultural Equipment and Machinery Development Institute in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, to serve the North Central geopolitical zone.
The institute will operate under the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Sani Haruna disclosed this while delivering President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval letter establishing the institute to the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule at the Government House.
While conveying the letter approving the agricultural equipment and machinery institute in Lafia, the NASENI boss equally requested that the Nasarawa State Government should provide a temporary site for the institute to kick-off immediately, as well as a permanent site among other interventions.
According to Prof. Haruna, unlike other institutes under his agency, the Lafia Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Development Institute is a specialised institute that will develop machinery and tools that will ease agricultural trades, food processing, preservation and innovation, in all the value chains of agricultural practice.
“It’s intended that all the equipment needed in the agricultural sector, from small to heavy machinery, will be produced locally and here in Lafia,” he stated.
He explained that the institute will commence assembling certain equipment locally and in collaboration with other NASENI centres, stressing that other businesses that will be created as a result of the coming on board of the institute, will be countless.
Prof. Sani disclosed that as a result of the request by Governor Sule, the Federal Government, after a careful study, decided to establish an agricultural equipment and machinery development institute in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“After a rigorous assessment, monitoring peace, progress and commitment to agriculture, among other indicators, the Presidency decided that that of North Central should be hosted in Nasarawa State,” Prof. Haruna said.
Governor Sule thanked the President for giving the approval for establishing the agricultural equipment and machinery development institute in Lafia, the state capital.
According to the Governor, the institute is coming at no better time, especially with Nasarawa State is mostly agrarian.
He pointed out siting the institute in Nasarawa State will bring much ease to farmers who have continued to suffer as a result of poor yield, due to unavailability of needed equipment, proper enlightenment on farming techniques, as well as poor harvest and post-harvest losses.
The Governor was emphatic that locating the institute in Lafia, which is central, will serve big commercial agricultural enterprises operating in the state, especially, Dangote Group in Awe, Olams in Doma, Azman Rice and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, with all producing sugar, rice and cassava.
