The Federation Of Agricultural Commodity Association Of Nigeria (FACAN) and Greentech and Mines Limited, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for the deployment of drones to boost agricultural production in the country.
FACAN is the umbrella organization for all the Commodities Associations.It is set to promote agricultural activities along the value chain for food security, job creation, poverty reduction, foreign exchange earnings and increased productivity, among others.
FACAN also provides a common voice for agricultural commodities associations in the country, in the areas of policy formulation, Implementation,monitoring and evaluation as well as promote high quality commodity exports among confederating units.
Speaking at an event in Abuja, Sherrif Balogun, President Of the Association, said there was need for the association which represents the interests of commodities producers to modernize agriculture and move it beyond the pre-civilization era.
He explained that the signing of the MoU would see the technical cooperation between the organizations to increase agricultural production as well as reduce labor costs, especially in irrigation.
“Production needs to move beyond the ways our forefathers used to do in Agriculture. Technology has made things easier. And we’re definitely inviting that technology to drive increased production, drive efficiency and bring down prices of services.
“The use of drones definitely has reduced the price and labor that you deploy in irrigating your farmland and also has cut down tremendously the time given to irrigate as well.
Previously, you probably cannot irrigate 10, 30 hectares in a day if you have to deploy several numbers of people and do it effectively and efficiently.
“With drones now, you can just sit down in the comfort of an office and set the coordinates and do the work in an efficient manner. So, we are optimistic in FACAN about the technology. We are happy that you are deploying services in the agri-sector.
“We welcome the development on both sides. They bring in their expertise, efficiency, integrity and provide services that the farmer will be very happy at the end of the day,” he stated.
Balogun expressed optimism that if implemented, the innovation will ensure that delays in agricultural commodities production is reduced considerably.
He revealed that up to 90% of the farmers in Nigeria are subsistence farmers, and hoped that the new relationship between the two organizations will help such smallholder farmers.
In the similar vein, the Chief Executive Of Greentech , Maxi Murachiso, explained that drone technology will ensure top notch delivery, noting that the target was to make drones popular in agricultural production in Nigeria.
According to him, the company aims to make the product a household one among the farmers in the country.
In her remarks, Victoria Tabale,President, National Association Of Spices Producers, said the new collaboration will be of benefit to women who are mostly in the spices industry
FACAN General Secretary , Bello Dogondaji, said the organization is an umbrella company of over 60 agricultural commodity associations in a Nigeria which are into production, processing and marketing.
He explained that the technology will help to upscale local production of sunflowers in Nigeria, especially among cluster farmers.
Dogondaji lauded the synergy that was about to be forged and called for collaboration of smallholder farmers.
Jubril Bukar, Sunflower Producers President,promised to key in to the initiative, noting that there was need for high tech equipment like the drones. He however emphasized the need to make the technology affordable.
