Mechanised farming: How NAMEL will change the narratives of agriculture in Nigeria – Officials (Photos)

Dr. Ahmed D. Adekunle, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigeria Agricultural Mechanization Equipment Leasing Company (NAMEL) has revealed how his firm is going to change the face of agriculture in the country and possibly set the pace in Africa.

Dr. Adekunle who spoke during an interactive session with newsmen while officially ushering Nigerians to the fresh month of December at his Abuja office, on behalf of his company said they have designed a perfect social investment opportunity for farmers and investors with the endorsement of President Mohammedu Buahri and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) under the distinguished leadership of Minister, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh.

According to him: “With our already signed memorandum of Agreements (MoA) with John Deere, Tractor Owners & Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), and Tractors Owners & Hiring Facilities Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN) on a private sector-driven mechanization programme, we intend to deploy through a special Purpose Vehicle
(SPV) 10,000 units of tractors and other mechanized implements
between 2018 to 2023 to establish 2500 Agricultural Equipment
Hiring Enterprises (AEHE)
and also lead a novel indigenous Mechanization
Industrialization process that ensures at least 30-40% local
content inclusion in Mechanized equipment in Nigeria.

“NAMEL also will coordinate an innovative Agricultural land development and liberalize mechanization services that is
available, accessible and affordable to all farmers ensuring 70% substitution of imported farm equipment with locally viable manufactured farm machinery.” He added.

Also speaking, the company’s Head of Projects, Mr Innocent Ogirinye restated NAMEL’s Commitment to Serve as the converging/coordinating Platform for equipment Manufacturers representative/ Vendors, Financial Institutions/Investors, Equipment Lessees/Service Provider Operators, Insurance Organizations, Mechanization Extension/Capacity Building Outfits, Government/Development Organizations in order to build a multi-stakeholders Mechanization Intervention Programme and tractorization scheme with robust technical and financial capacity operating through a network of equipment leasing/Hiring agents.”