Buhari okays N24.4b for irrigation schemes, says NASENI EVC

• Published date: 13 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved N24.4 billion for the first phase of the Smart Irrigation Scheme (SIS), the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, has said.

He said Nigeria was already trying to promote multi-crops season farming programme.

As part of an all-year round bumper harvest plan, the Federal Government has decided to establish six Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institutes (AMEDIs) in the geopolitical zones.

The AMEDIs, Haruna said yesterday, will teach farmers not only mechanized farming but modern farming techniques.

He said the country has been collaborating with Czech Republic and Jordan on modern agriculture and manpower training on mechanized farming.

Haruna made the disclosures at the foundation laying of the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Obudu, Cross River State for the South-South.

He said: 'The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had laid foundation of ensuring multi-crops season farming programme in Nigeria by approving N24.4 billion for the Phase One of Smart Irrigation Scheme.

'The proliferation of mechanized farming is needed to meet the targeted bumper harvest all-year round which inform the need for local production of tools and equipment and hence approval for the six institutes nationwide.

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'One of the targets of implementing bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Czech Republic approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and managed by Presidential Implementation Committee hosted by NASENI is to make Agriculture attractive to the youths by deploying mechanization and technology.

'NASENI experts trained recently in Czech Republic and others in Jordan in modern agriculture are among the best Nigeria has ever produced in Agricultural Technology with capacity and know-how in the application...