As part of efforts by the federal government to ensure food security, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) announced its collaboration with three countries to revolutionize agriculture in Nigeria.
It gave the names of the countries as Italy, the Hashmite Kingdom of Jordan and the Czech Republic.
The partner-countries, the agency further said, would offer technical assistance to the six newly- AMEDI across the six geo-political zones across the country.
Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive NASENI, Prof Mohammed Sani Haruna announced the collaboration Friday at the official working visit of the Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari to the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute in Lafia, Nasarawa state.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2021 approved the location of six AMEDI institutions in each of the geo-political zones in the country.
The institutes are in Lafia, Nasarawa state (North Central); Adamawa (North-East), Kebbi (North West), Cross River (South-South), Imo (South-East) and Osun (South West).
Speaking on the collaboration, the NASENI EVC said the federal government’s focus was to “move Nigeria from subsistence farming to a more sophisticated ways of farming to ensure food security.”
“NASENI is collaborating with partners from Hashmite Kingdom of Jordan, Czech republic and Italy to equip this institute and the other five Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute with state of the earth research and manufacturing facilities targeting the best and the highest technology in the world.
“All these are made possible by the grace of God and the deliberate priority of Agriculture by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“With these developments, all that is needed for modern farming, food processing, packaging and preservation will be locally produced by NASENI,” he said.
Explaining the essence of the six institutes, Haruna said: “The Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institutes (AMEDI) approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 are not only to guaranty food security but to apply modern tools and equipment for mechanized Agriculture and Technology for food processing, food preservation and application of food availability and artificial intelligence for efficient and multi-crop seasons.
“NASENI is among the best legacies that President Buhari will be bequeathing to the next and subsequent administration in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Prof. Gambari said the AMEDI would provide for the export of Nigerian agricultural products.
He said: “We want to commend the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for bringing into reality the concept which the Buhari administration approved for this institute sited in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.”
