Buhari inaugurates Agricultural Machinery Development Institute to enhance food security
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday inaugurated the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Lafia, in Narasawa State, to enhance and harness food security and also create jobs for the youths across the country.
AMEDI is one of the Buhari administration’s projects and legacies meant to make Nigeria a hub for exportation and supplier of agro-allied technology, equipment, and machinery.
The project which is aimed at making the country self-sufficient in food production as well as empowering the youths with jobs is a good development for the nation.
A multi-billion Naira product of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), AMEDI is equipped with modern laboratories and machines for mechanized farming and agricultural development in the country.
Taken around the premises of the institute by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Prof. Muhammed Sani, the President inspected facilities including equipment and laboratories at the institute.
During the inspection, Sani said the foundation laying for the construction of the institute and its inauguration was within a period of fewer than six months. This showed the seriousness of completing the project with speed.
According to the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, this is the second inauguration of NASENI projects by the president within a span of three months.
Sani said: ”We the management and staffers of NASENI are not taking this rare privilege for granted.
”The foundation laying for construction of this institute and its inauguration today is within a period of fewer than six months.
”Mr. President may recall his directive for the establishment of six new Agricultural-Technology-based Institutes, one each per geo-political zone of Nigeria in 2021 as part of the twelve new Institutes approved to be established.
”NASENI under my leadership has developed a culture of speedy delivery on Presidential directives not only to justify the new status of the agency but also to fast-track the transition of Nigeria to a manufacturing knowledge-based economy.”
He added that the conceptualization of the institute was targeted at the use of engineering infrastructure and science to support the presidential efforts in order to attain food and nutritional security in the country for the people.
”The peculiarity of our soil with inherent edaphic factors and peculiar topography requires the production of made-in-Nigeria agricultural implements, machinery, and equipment that can support responsible and productive agricultural practices in the face of climate change.
”We are conversant with the Sustainable Development Goals and our national expectations to end hunger and create decent cum inclusive jobs for our youth and women.
”We are resolved at NASENI to use the platforms of AMEDIs to modernize agri-business in Nigeria and ensure sustainable scaling of agro-enterprises for new jobs and wealth creation,” he added.
Sani said: ”The main workshop in the institute shall become a model of SMART factory that will leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver Made- in-Nigeria products and market demand-driven services that are suitable for both our farmers and arable lands.
”The crop-livestock integration farming model to be practiced in the experimental farm of the institute is strategic to the training of farmers and agro entrepreneurs on sustainable farming methods using land resource optimization models.”
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