PHOTO: VON
The Executive Director of National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM) Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr. Yomi Kasali has identified poorly trained tractors’ operators as reasons for short life span of many agricultural machinery in the country.
Kasali, represented by one of the directors of NCAM, Dr. Segun Ademiluyi, at the training on Capacity Building of Tractors Operators and Maintenance of Equipment, in Ilorin, said, life span of tractors outside Nigeria is 50 years, lamenting that same tractors only last five years in Nigeria.
He spoke during the closing ceremony of over 100 tractors’ operators across Nigeria, trained by the NCAM. The event was jointly bankrolled by the institute and Tractors’ Owners and Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN).
The Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM) Ilorin, Dr. Yomi Kasali has canvassed adequate inspection by the institution on agricultural equipment being imported into the country.
Kasali, while deploring the alleged abandonment of heaps of imported moribund tractors in the premises of many Nigerian parastatals, said the colossal waste could have been averted if NCAM participated in the process leading to their purchase.
He spoke yesterday in Ilorin, during the passing out ceremony of 50 tractors’ operators and mechanics trained by the institute and drawn across the federation to enhance the nation’s agriculture service delivery. x
Many agriculture experts attended the event, held at the same time with the graduation of 30 trainees of Integrated Agricultural Entrepreneurship, across Nigeria.