The Nigerian Society Of Engineers Buhari branch have called for the local production of mechanised farming equipment.
At the Annual General meeting of the engineering body, in Abuja it revealed that local production of machineries will help improve food production especially for rural farmers.
The average Nigerian farmer has a high level of indigenous knowledge about the soil in his environment and weather patterns.
However, his limited literacy and lack of familiarity with contemporary agricultural practices are a burden for him.
Stakeholders are concerned about his inability to increase production and yields to meet the growing demands of Nigeria’s population.
A nation is considered to be food secure when the majority of its citizens always have access to food in quantities and of a quality that is sufficient for a decent existence.
Experts in the engineering sector are saying modernised farming is the way to ensure food security in Nigeria.
They want more effort to be made to ensure that farmers especially those in the rural areas get proper training to improve efficiency and productivity.
Nigeria is working towards achieving mechanised farming and engineers are also willing to help achieve the laudable dream.
Farming should no longer be considered a job for the illiterate, and graduates should be encouraged to pursue agriculture as a career.
Diversification of the economy has become more important since COVID-19, but agriculture has received little attention.
Chairman of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Bwari, Halimat Adediran stated that policy uncertainty has affected the agriculture sector like every other sector of the Nigerian economy.
Every government comes up with it’s own programmes and policies which cancel those made by previous governments.
President, West African Federation of Engineering Organisations added that there should be policy consistency and continuity by incumbent and successive governments.
