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To propel advancements in the agriculture sector, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has joined forces with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to establish a committee aimed at expediting the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
This strategic partnership seeks to bolster food production for both local consumption and export.
The inauguration of the committee held recently at the ministry’s conference room, witnessed the collaboration’s official commencement. Addressing the gathering, the permanent secretary of FMAFS, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi highlighted the timeliness of strengthening collaboration with NASENI, emphasising the pivotal role of innovation and technology in the modern world.
Fashedemi underscored the importance of integrating technology into agricultural practices, asserting that this approach aligns with the administration’s goals of achieving food security, job creation, and industrialisation throughout the country. He further outlined the key thematic areas of the National Agriculture Technology and Innovation (2022-2027) initiative, emphasising the need for synergy, knowledge transfer, mechanization, funding establishment, extension services revitalisation and livestock development.
The technical committee, comprised of directors from various FMAFS departments and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, along with representatives from NASENI, is tasked with examining existing programs and projects. The committee’s mandate includes identifying areas of collaboration specified by NASENI, such as technology transfer, the Rice Storage Project, assembling farm implements and outlining roles, responsibilities, as well as benefits across these collaboration areas.
In response, the director of the federal department of agriculture in the ministry, Engr. Garba Abdullahi pledged the committee’s dedication to achieving its mandate. He expressed the committee’s commitment to leveraging innovation to redefine and position the agricultural sector in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda.
The collaboration between FMAFS and NASENI signifies a strategic effort to usher in a new era of agricultural practices, fostering sustainability, efficiency and productivity. As the committee embarks on its mission, the partnership holds the potential to revolutionise the agricultural landscape and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic development.