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Buhari inaugurates agriculture machinery development  institute

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Lafia inaugurated the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) to boost food and agro production in the country.

The president inaugurated the project during his visit to Lafia on Saturday.

Prof. Mohammed Haruna, the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), said the establishment of AMEDI was a dream come true by the present administration.

He said that the conceptualisation of AMEDI Lafia was targeted at the use of science and engineering infrastructure to support the Presidential efforts in the attainment of food and nutritional security in Nigeria and for Nigerians.

Haruna pointed out that the establishment of the institute was in keeping with the president’s directive to establish six new Agricultural-Technology based institutes, one each per geo-political zone of Nigeria in 2021.

“AMEDI Lafia is the first to be completed among the six equals across the geo-political zones of the country.

“The peculiarity of our soil with inherent edaphic factors and peculiar topography require the production of Made in Nigeria agricultural implements, machinery and equipment that can support responsible and productive agricultural practices in the face of climate change.

“We are conversant with the Sustainable Development Goals and our national expectations to end hunger and create decent cum inclusive jobs for our youth and women,” he said.

The vice chairman said that NASENI had resolved to use the platforms of AMEDIs to modernise agribusiness in Nigeria and ensure sustainable scaling of agro-enterprises for new jobs and wealth creation.

He said: “As a modular agricultural institute, AMEDI Lafia and others when completed have a template to advance the injection of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in the agricultural space across the country.

“The in-built capabilities of the institutes will ensure the use of additive and SMART manufacturing platforms already acquired by NASENI system-wide to design, develop, assemble and produce agricultural and food processing implements for various classes of farmers.

“The main workshop in the institute shall become a model of SMART factory that will leverage cutting edge technologies to deliver Made in Nigeria products and market demand driven services that are suitable for both our farmers and arable lands.

“The crop-livestock integration farming model to be practiced in the experimental farm of the institute is strategic to training of farmers and agro-entrepreneurs on sustainable farming methods using land resource optimisation models.”

Haruna explained that AMEDI Lafia was equipped with Central Research Laboratory that would support the research activities along the various value chains of the target product lines of the institute.

“The institute has installed modern equipment for the processing of fruit juices, milk and other dairy products, tomato processing to mention but a few.

“Each equipment that is installed here is for backward integration, and multiple and improved versions would be produced by the institute for the benefits of farmers and agro-equipment industries that would be mass produced to meet the demand of the nation,” he said.

Agriculture-in-China

Nigeria inaugurates facilities for Agriculture training institute

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, has inaugurated the regional offices and hostels for Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) in Abuja.

A statement by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Chief Information Officer of the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, announced this in Abuja.

Abubakar said this would fast-track agricultural techniques, boost production and generate foreign exchange by providing requisite training for stakeholders in agricultural sector.

He said the Institute would help the ministry in achieving its mandate to ensure food security in crops, livestock and fisheries.

The minister said this would also stimulate agricultural employment and services.

He added that the facilitators of the institute would be provided with work space which has the ambiance required to imbue knowledge in the participants.

Abubakar said that the institute had been building fast-growing networks and collaborations with local and international agencies in the area of capacity building in the agriculture and rural development.

He said the institute has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with organisations such as the Washington State University (WSU) on capacity building in Organic agriculture, and common wealth of learning.

Abubakar said there was need to build more mutual benefiting networks and grow with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural and rural management capacity building sub sector.

He lauded the management of the institute for capacity development and empowerment of thousands of small holders’ farmers as well as other actors

along agricultural commodity value chains.

 The minister, therefore, advised the management of the Institute to ensure regular and consistent maintenance of the facility for its sustainability.

The Executive  Director, ARMTI, Dr Olufemi Oladunni said that the development of the RTC of the institute was done in phases.

” The Abuja RTC was very strategic in the pursuit of the institute’s mandate.

” Given its location in the heart of FCT and direct connection to the rest of the world, a very good number of our partners and collaborators in the sector prefer Abuja RTC for their programmes,” he said.