NCAM establishes centre in Abia to boost food production
…Trains farmers on agric equipment handling
In its resolve to boost food security and make farmers to produce enough for consumption and commercialisation, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture through the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation has established its branch in National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, Abia State to serve as Centre for the entire South-east zone.
M.Y. Kasali, executive director of NCAM, during the ceremony tagged ‘The Agricultural Mechanisation Field Day and Interactive Session with Relevant Stakeholders in the SouthEast Region’, disclosed that the choice of Abia was because NCAM had given approval to establish her field office at NRCRI, Umudike that would provide services to stakeholders in the entire south-east.
He said that the occasion was also meant to sensitise all stakeholders of the presence of NCAM in the zone and also create awareness of the availability of agricultural mechanisation technologies developed by the centre at Ilorin, Kwara State through practical demonstrations, adding that the choice of Abia ADP for the exercise was because it was the closest government agency to farmers.
The NCAM boss noted that the introduction of agricultural mechanisation technologies was the best to increase productivity, adding that it would reduce drudgery, improve timeliness of operation, increase productivity per hectare and thus improve the socio-economic wellbeing of farmers.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in his address said he was delighted over the partnership in using the machineries and other farming equipment to improve productivity.
Ikpeazu, who was represented by his Deputy, Ude Oko-chukwu disclosed that his administration placed priority in Agriculture which is one of the five pillars his government.
He promised to support A fan, ad pan dot her groups to procure the equipment to increase yields.
Israel Amanze, the programme manager of the State Agricultural Development Programme, in his speech disclosed that Abia was the hub of metal fabrication, hence the need for Federal Government to assist them in this direction.