The Federal Government, through National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has established Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Speaking at the ground breaking of the institute on Monday in Lafia, Executive Vice-Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said the development was part of federal government’s intervention in agriculture to revolutionise farming and food processing in Nigeria, using technology.
He said that the institute had the mandate of building on the successes of NASENI in the production of agricultural equipment from cultivation through the food value chain to post-harvest, processing and food preservation.
Haruna said that the institute would serve as a pilot location for the implementation of the agreement between Nigeria and Czech Republic on research, development of equipment and training of Nigerians in the field of agriculture.
He said that the institute would also focus on processing agricultural waste to renewable energy.
“The institute will also serve as a pilot location for the implementation of agreement between NASENI and a Jordanian agency on food safety to guarantee quality and acceptability of Nigeria’s farm produce for export,” Haruna added.
