BY UBONG SAMPSON
A research and development consultant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Promise Etim has made a case for Agricultural engineers in the state as regards being included by Governor Udom Emmanuel in the recently constituted Agricultural Development and Food Sufficiency Committee.
Mr Etim made the urge recently while addressing journalists in Uyo. Etim noted that the Agricultural Development value chain revolves around production, through enhanced mechanization and processing, which he said, were core duties of Agricultural Engineers.
"The new committee cannot function well, without the inclusion of an Agricultural Engineer. The Agricultural Engineer is directly involved in initiation, planning, execution and monitoring of agricultural production processes, particularly, ones linked to mechanization. Professionals in the field, simply apply Engineering to Agricultural practices for the purpose of increased production. They design machines and facilitate storage of agricultural materials, because they are well vested with knowledge of the Engineering properties of most agricultural resources, which are panacea for development of processing machines.
"It is the duty of the Agricultural Engineer to design farm structures for effective environmental control, develop irrigation and drainage structures required for subsistence and mechanized farming practices, utilize mechanical components for planting and harvesting of agricultural produce. The Agricultural Engineer, develop modules that aids easy processing and storage of harvested products for increase production, consumption by the people and export purposes". He said.
On the plans of the State Government to actively delve into mechanized farming, Etim, maintained that, it is necessary for the new administration to look to the direction of agric engineers, which he said will play active roles in land clearing and development for mechanized farming. He hinted that, such technocrat can be drafted from the Department of Agricultural Engineering in Akwa Ibom State University or that of the University of Uyo.
He further said the Agricultural Transformation drive of the state, requires concerted effort from all stakeholders in the sector, to ensure the new administration in the state meets its food production target, to sustain the people and grow the economy.
"For us to place the state in line with others in terms of food sufficiency, all hands must be on deck. It should not be business as usual. The real farmers should be engaged. The days of purchasing fertilizers and distributing only in urban centers should be put behind. How do you expect a local woman who is directly involved in medium or large scale farming in Ika or Udung Uko, to bundle her way to Uyo and start queuing for fertilizers. There should be a paradigm shift to this regard. Fertilizers bought at subsidized rate by the Government for sole purpose of distribution to farmers, must get to the local farmers at the grassroots level, through a bottom-top approach, which will bring the Government closer to the people. They should be no central distribution of these resources again. Government should involve Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) personnel at ward levels". Etim added.
The R&D expert, lauded the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel on his proposal to send one thousand youths from the state to Israel for training in various fields of Agriculture. He however advised that persons to be considered for the programme should be drafted from all fields of Agriculture; poultry and livestocks, fisheries and aquaculture, animal science, crop science, soil science, food science and technology, agricultural economics and extension, as well as Agricultural/Food Engineering and Craftmen, to boost production and food security in the state.
He also congratulated the newly sworn in commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Matthew Ekatte on his appointment and urged the new head of the Ministry to innovate programs that will boost Youth and Women participation in Agriculture, while also considering immediate revitalization of the Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) and upgrading of the Integrated Farmers Scheme, set up by the Akpabio administration, to involve more rural farmers.
Etim urged the state to harness its huge agricultural resources for wealth creation, as an alternative means to limit dependency on crude oil for revenue generation.
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