ILORIN – In a bids for the citizenry, the federal government has been enjoined to embrace mechanization for greater quantities of crop production.
Professor Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of Ilorin made the call at the 187th Inaugural lecture of the University with the theme: “Gathering The Fragments That Nothing is Wasted:Advancing Agricultural Mechanization, Energy And Food Sovereignty Catena”.
The University Don who called on the e federal government to deploy all necessary political will and commitment to implement already documented food security programmes to the letter, said “there abound sufficient natural resources that can meet the dire food sovereignty of our nation, the concern therefore is to identify, appreciate, develop and apply them gainfully to attain surplus energy supply and food security. No known ‘spirit’ will come down to develope same for our use except to recolonize us”
“Nigeria needs National Agricultural Mechanization and Agro-Industrial Development policy and not mechanization strategies as currently available. As a matter of urgency , Agricultural Engineering Department should be estimated at all levels of government-federal, state and local. This is to ensure the aggregation of various programmes of mechanization technology under one functional unit.” He said
“Industrialization and urbanization are related to high level of energy self-sufficiency, it is recommended that concerted efforts should be geard towards the identification and developrnent of a specific feedstock for renewable energy generation
“Domestication of crops with high economic potential that grow naturally in the wild such as Shea nut and locust bean crops require dedicated attention. These crops must be adequately protected.
“Theses fragments of existing natural resorces peculiar to Nigeria ecology must be gathered to ensure that nothing is wasted. There is the need to enact endless loop of
energy supply, adequale nvestment in aguricutural mechanization to bring about food sovereignty” he said
Professor Joshua Olanrewaju Olaoye said the Synergy between the research institutes, universities and industries must be strengthened to achieve technological and national growth in the area of agricutural mechanization and agro-industrial development added that the teaching and training of agricultural engineering in all polytechnics and universities in the country must be restructured to result oriented approach and providing solutions to meet the needs of the farmers. “Department’s of agricultural engineering are to be assigned to clusters of farmers within given ecological zones as solution providers to their Agricultural Mechanization problems. The Bank of Industries (BOI) are to be empowered to support industries and other stake holders emanating from the researchers and farmers’ engagements.”
He said government regulations should be enforced as regards deforestation, mining, construction and other activities which distort the natural ecosystem and sustainable environment. “Indiscriminate bush burning and dumping of refuse ( especially in river courses) should be discouraged” he said.
Professor Joshua Olanrewaju however, said “incentives should be provided for students of agriculture-either basic or applied, and especially postgraduate students should be encouraged to show interest in agricultural mechanization and renewable energy studies.”
