President Muhammadu Buhari has approval N24.4 billion for phase one of the nation’s smart irrigation scheme.
As part of an all-year round bumper harvest plan, the Federal Government had resolved to establish six agricultural machinery and equipment development institutes in each geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
The new development was disclosed by executive vice chairman and chief executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna today (12 January 2023) at the foundation laying of AMEDI in Obudu, Cross River State for the South-South. According to Haruna, Nigeria was already promoting a multi season farming programme.
He said the institutes will teach farmers mechanised farming with modern techniques.
Haruna said the current administration had laid the foundation of ensuring multi-crops season farming programme in Nigeria by approving N24.4billion for the phase one of Smart Irrigation Scheme.
“The proliferation of mechanised farming is needed to meet the targeted bumper harvest all-year round which informs the need for local production of tools and equipment and approval for the six institutes nationwide,” he stated.
Haruna said Nigeria had been collaborating with the Czech Republic and Jordan on modern agriculture and manpower training on mechanised farming.
“One of the targets of implementing bilateral agreements between Nigeria and the Czech Republic approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and managed by the Presidential Implementation Committee hosted by NASENI is to make agriculture attractive to the youths by deploying mechanisation and technology,” he stated.
For his part, governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State commended the Federal Government for promoting the agricultural sector.
