Return to school agric practices, NCAM boss tells Federal Govt

The Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Ilorin, Dr. AbdulGafar Kamaldeen, has urged the Federal Government to resuscitate agricultural practices in all primary and post-primary schools.

Dr. Kamaldeen, a specialist in Farm Power Mechanisation, said the centre has enough man-power strengths that could manufacture or fabricate agric machines for all the public primary and post-primary schools in Nigeria.

According to him, “there is an area of advantage that we should no longer neglect as a nation that has attained the age of 63. This area is our public primary and secondary schools across the country.  Demonstration farms should be re-introduced in these schools as a matter of policy.

“The introduction will serve a dual purpose of food production and acquisitions of agriculture skills by the nation’s youths. Unlike during our days back at school when cutlasses and hoes were used, the NCAM has produced enough machines for planting to harvesting levels for agricultural practices. Our personnel are very skillful to even do more in this regard.”

While describing Nigeria as an ‘oil producing but not oil rich’ nation, the NCAM boss expressed optimism that the nation’s economic strength could be derived from agricultural exploits “if well planned for.”

Kamaldeen canvassed more supports for President Bola Tinubu led government as it leads the nation, noting that through patience and endurance Nigeria will get to its socio-political and economic blossoming moments.