Amid calls for prompt re-introduction of Agricultural Science into the academic curriculum of primary and post primary schools in Kwara State, the Executive Director of National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Dr Abdul-Gafar Kamaldeen, has promised adequate supports by his institute for the scheme.

Kamaldeen, in a chat with The Guardian, in Ilorin, said, the call was long overdue, citing the importance of agriculture to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the nation’s economic growth.

Some traditional rulers in Kwara South Senatorial District had few days ago urged the state government to make agricultural science a compulsory subject for the primary school pupils and secondary school students in the state’s public schools.

According to Kamaldeen: “The issue of agriculture is germane to survival of humanity and the growth of any nation in which Nigeria can’t afford to be an exception. Before the advent of oil in Nigeria, we had managed our affairs through agriculture. This remains a fiery tale to the present Nigerian generation.

“We need to reenact this feat now, starting with our school pupils and children. This is the way forward for a veritable economic system. We are, therefore, ready to partner with the state government to make this proposition realisable.”

The NCAM boss, while lauding the vision of the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, for agriculture, recounted how the governor had, in a few years into his administration, paid an impromptu visit to the centre to assess the strength of the institute.

He added: “During the visit, he inspected some of our designs and fabrications that when put into applications would remove drudgery in agric practices and increase the produce of our farmers, especially those at the semi subsistence level of agriculture.”

Kamaldeen disclosed that NCAM, with its seasoned engineers, has the capacity to design and fabricate all the modern agricultural needs of not just Nigeria, but the entire African sub region.

“Besides, we have the capacities to design to specifications putting into the considerations the varying types of topographies we have in Africa. We, therefore, throw a challenge to our state governors to enter into collaboration with us, towards contributing immensely to their economic growths,” he noted.

NCAM currently has over 200 agric designs including, mini tractors and threshers developed mainly with local materials.