Agric institute decries dearth of tractor operators

The Acting Director of National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin, Dr Yomi Kasali has said that unless more Nigerians volunteered to train as tractor operators, the nation may within the next few years, begin to experience dearth of personnel in the field.

Kasali, who spoke recently in Ilorin at the opening ceremony of the training on women empowerment in operation, maintenance and management of agro processing machines and equipment, said government and private individuals in must tackle the increasing needs of the agriculture sector if the nation must avoid a major set back in mechanized farming.

Participants, who were majorly sponsored by states’ ministries of agriculture and Agricultural Development Programs (ADPS), came from Kwara, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo and Enugu states.

He said: “There can never be processing without production, thus the need to train youths on how to operate tractors in order to enhance the current production level in the country.