Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has expressed optimism that the Agriculture and Mechinary Development Institute, AMEDI in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise in Imo State, a project of the National Agency For Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, will go a long way in contributing to enhance food security in the country which is in line with desire of President Muhammadu Buhari to boost food security in the country
Onu who spoke when he inspected the project at the weekend said when completed, it will boost productivity in Agriculture. He also said AMEDI will encourage research and encourage Nigerians to design machines locally. He said with the help of the Institute it will also help in commercializing Agriculture with the involvement of the private sector.
He said through the Institute’s machinery, it will further boost agriculture production through mechnization, carry out design and research and allow the private sector to commercialize.
The Minister decried a situation where Nigeria was at one time rated as the world’s highest importer of rice, describing such situation as unacceptable pointing out that the project when completed will encourage local production through the use of locally made machinary
“This Institute will help us achieve the task of boosting food production. It will promote food security. It will carry out research and design. There is need to mechanize our Agriculture. Good enough the machines are on ground and they are locally made and once the project is completed, it will be beneficial
In her remarks, the representative of the Executive vice chair General of NASENI, Mrs Nonyem Onyeji, who is the Director of Policy Planing, Policy analysis in the Agency, said the Agriculture and Mechinary Development Institute, AMEDI, will aid in boosting agricultural production through effective use of locally made machines. She said the project was kick started in December 2012 and has been hampered by lack of funds until it was included in the 2018 budget, stating that the project will soon near completion.
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