Borno State Governor to partner Centre in Agric mechanization

The Borno State Governor, Northeastern Nigeria, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has disclosed the readiness of his administration to partner with the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, Ilorin (NCAM) in order to optimize Agriculture Mechanization in his State.

Zulum, a Nigerian Professor and Politician said this during a working visit to the Centre in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, North Central Nigeria.

The Governor who was received by the Executive Director /CEO of the centre, Engr. Kamal Abdulgafar Rasheed and his Management team harped on his readiness to collaborate with NCAM in equipment development and knowledge transfer.

He , however, urged the the Nigerian Government to pay more attention to the centre, noting that, “NCAM stands as the only government owned agricultural mechanization Centre with the overall mandate to mechanize Nigeria Agriculture.”

Zulum also appreciated the Centre for the giant stride already recorded in equipment development and the bid to recognize the Nigeria Agriculture and its capability of making the country self-sufficient in food production.

“Nigeria is greatly endowed with both natural and human resources, (which is evident in NCAM’s giant strides), that are capable of making the country self-sufficient in food production” the governor declared.

He lamented that the Centre is not well known and patronized by both the State governments and the Federal Government which has resulted in the prevailing low mechanization status of Agriculture in the country.

After his presentation, the number one citizen of Borno State alongside his entourage were led for an exhibition of NCAM proven technologies.

Some of the equipment showcased were NCAM’s tractor, yam mound making implement, cassava planter, grain planters, weeder, complete cassava processing line, rice mill, complete oil palm processing line and many others.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of NCAM, Engr. Kamal stressed on the potentials of the Centre, especially in areas of equipment development, training, standardization, testing and certification.

Similarly, he urged Governments at all levels to make optimum use of the government owned agricultural mechanization Centre in their mandate to mechanize Nigeria Agriculture.

NCAM is the only on- purpose built intervention agency of the Nigerian Government under the Presidency whose mandate include nurturing an appropriate and dynamic Science and Engineering infrastructure base for achieving home initiated and home sustained industrialization for Nigeria.