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Make agriculture compulsory in secondary schools, says NCAM boss

By Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
25 March 2017   |   4:37 am
The Acting Director of National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin, Dr. Yomi Kasali, has canvassed prompt inculcation of agriculture as a compulsory subject in the curricula of the country’s post-primary institutions to boost the interest...

Selected youths will undertake six weeks training on a pay of N10,000 each during the training; the training will hold simultaneously at Oyo and Awe

The Acting Director of National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin, Dr. Yomi Kasali, has canvassed prompt inculcation of agriculture as a compulsory subject in the curricula of the country’s post-primary institutions to boost the interest of youths in the ancient profession. 

While lauding the Federal Government’s resolve to make agriculture one of the mainstays of the Nigerian economy, Kasali said the concept should be built in youths at the secondary level to guarantee its sustainability. 

Speaking at the Centre during the grand finale of a week-long intensive training for selected operators of high duty agricultural tools across some six states of the federation, including Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa and Enugu, Kasali stated: “The desire of the Federal Government to make agriculture one of the tripods upon which the nation’s economy is standing is a good one. It will no doubt boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). 

However, the vision will be better if it is made a compulsory subject at the secondary school level.”Already, the Centre has disclosed its intention to make some selected post-primary schools in the state agricultural models by setting up demonstration farms, powered by some of NCAM’s locally fabricated tools. 

He nevertheless regretted the alleged apathy of the heads of the schools to the offer, just as he said he would extend the same gestures to the 16 Local Government headquarters in Kwara State. 

He urged the trained tractor operators to return to their base to impact the skills acquired in their colleagues towards eradication of drudgery in the country agricultural practices. 

Besides, Kasali urged them to use the skill acquired in the area of tractor repairs to upgrade the damaged tractors lying fallow in their localities. Meanwhile, the Centre has threatened to commence prompt implementation of one of its core mandates in the area of “certification of tractors before use” to save the country from poor agricultural yields. 

Kasali said at the opening ceremony that the Federal Government agencies always complied with the mandate of the Centre, but blamed some state governments for allegedly defaulting in this respect. 

He stressed: “We shall no longer allow the usage of tractors that are not designed for Nigerian weather conditions by our farmers. “The implications of this include poor yields, piling up of huge scraps due to substandard parts that can not withstand our weather conditions and loss of capital used to import them into the country. 

“We thank some state governments who have complied with this mandate of the NCAM, but many of them are yet to comply. We don’t have any problem with relevant federal agencies on this.

“We are now ready to start more advocacy on this and we hope it will contribute greatly to the federal government’s policy on agribusiness.”Noting that mechanisation remained a positive drive for agricultural success story, the NCAM boss canvassed more patronage from states and local governments to sponsor more trainees to the Centre for proper and modern knowledge on agricultural mechanisation. 

The training, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the 3rd National FADAMA Development Project (FADAMA lll), attracted trainees from six states of the federation. 

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