Readers' Comments on the Feats Achieved by Agricultural Engineers in Nigeria

Readers' Comments

It is another time for feedbacks from readers of this Column. The last 3-series article on the feats achieved by Agricultural Engineers in Nigeria solicited many comments from readers. A notable comment on the issue came from the National Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), a division of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr Babatunde Adewumi, a renowned Professor of Agricultural Engineering in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. In addition to the comments, one Engineer called my attention to an omission of the name of Engr. Prof. Peter Onwualu, fnse, the immediate Past DG, RMRDC, Abuja among the list of "Grandfather Engineers" mentioned in my concluding part of the article. Yes, it was really an omission because Prof. Onwualu has been responsible directly or indirectly for the development of several prototype agricultural machineries across many research development centres and institutions. One day, this column will focus on the breakthroughs of this giant achiever.   Before then, let me start with a backlog of the previous comments on Centre for Dryland Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano. Another thing, members can read my previous articles in my blog. www.breakthroughwithmkothman.blogspot. com, Happy reading and have a wonderful weekend.

Bayero University Kano: Actively Transforming Drylands of West African Sub-Region through Partnerships

Dear M. K. Othman

Permit me to thank the management of LEADERSHIP FRIDAY for creating this unique column to create awareness of innovations in Science and Technology. The article on "Centre for Dryland Agriculture" is a master piece. The Centre is certainly achieving one of the objectives of establishing Bayero University, Kano; solving problem of the community and nation through transformation of dryland. I however wish to give some advices to the Centre; 1) The Centre should have internal organizing structure to make its activities durable and sustainable especially the grants received from donor agencies are exhausted. 2) Core staff of the Centre need to be trained in different disciplines of dry agriculture,  3)The Centre should engage in improvement of indigenous technologies as well as coping strategy of the dry land and environment. Finally, there should be deliberate effort to develop knowledge system involving knowledge acquisition, sharing and utilization for national development.

Prof. Ibrahim B. Mohammed, ibabamohd@yahoo.co.uk   

Technological Feats of Agricultural Engineers in Nigeria

Dear M. K. Othman

Thanks for beaming your light on the achievements of Agricultural Engineers, your passion for writing, as a seasoned academic with practical approach has made the write up on your own profession - Agricultural Engineering very interesting to read and comprehend. The three set of articles are just introductory, with an inexhaustible list of achievements, Agricultural Engineers have developed prototype machines with locally available materials in all aspects of agriculture; production, processing and utilization. But, the questions yet to be answered as you rightly asked in your last article are: When shall all these innovation be a common item for the end users, especially our local farmers? When shall relevant stake holders unite to transform these inventions into realities?  Is our Government ready to play her central and critical roles? If the Buhari administration could be pragmatic to set the national priorities and implement right, I am sure we shall soon get there. We need a right thinking, pro-active, willing and right-acting Government to make the common man in Nigeria to eat the fruit of the land and be proud to be a Nigerian. Agricultural Engineers are willing partners for the mechanization of agriculture in Nigeria. let me end by thanking the management of Leadership Newspaper for creating this Column.

Engr. Prof. B. A. Adewumi fnse, fniae, adewumiba@gmail.com

Dear M. K. Othman

Thanks for writing  this article "Technological Feats of Agricultural Engineers in Nigeria". Remember though, Prof Udigbo of University of Nsukka did so much on fabrication of so many prototypes agricultural machineries produced and tested. Some of his works were even "perfected" by him at Cranfield Silsoe in United Kingdom and shipped back to Nigeria. You need to reach out to him and similar people for showcasing their modest achievements to the public arena.  Now that dollar is too strong, we have to develop these achievements/feats to the highest level so quickly to take our rightful position in the Nigerian economy and I hope your wonderful article will address it. Well done Prof.

 Engr Umar B. Bindir PhD (Cranfield) ubindir@yahoo.com

Dear M. K. Othman

Praise be to Almighty Allah for a good job Sir. I have always wondered who and when will our (Agricultural Engineers) messiah come to stand and speak up for us and with us? There is light at the end of the tunnel. Please and for God's sake don't relent because you stand as a symbol of hope for the upcoming generation of Agricultural Engineers and other professionals. Kudus to YOU Sir

Engr Muhammad Muhammad Abdulsalam,

 abdulsalammuhammadmuhammad@gmail.com

Dear Othman

It is pleasant to appreciate your articles in Leadership Friday and your blog. Kindly keep it up

Rabiu Abubakar Babura,  dankanya912@gmail.com

Dear M. K. Othman

Dr M. K. Othman’s column in the LEADERSHIP Newspaper is exposing interesting achievements recorded in field of engineering for agriculture and other profession. Of note is the exposure he gave to NCAM (National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization) located at Idofian village near Ilorin, Kwara state. The centre has been very wonderful in her effort to develop agriculture through mechanization. The centre has been leading in research and development in all fields of agriculture and engineering. It is important for readers to know that NCAM,  in performance of her functions aimed at realizing the set of objectives for which she was established, the centre has recorded tremendous achievements. Some of these achievements include design and development of:

a)    Seed treatment drum for chemically treating seeds prior to storage or planting

b)   Hand seed planter for planting such grains as maize, soya bean guinea corn, etc.

c)    Manual seed and fertilizer broadcaster

d)   Improved long handle weeding hoe. A device for weeding and hoeing

e)   Rotary hand push weeding hoe

f)    Cassava lifter for uprooting cassava tubers

g)   Cassava peeling tool

h)   Pedal operated cassava grater

i)     Tractor mounted groundnut digger

j)    Groundnut decorticator

k)   Far level parboiler

l)     Integrated palm fruit processing equipment which is capable of caring out the following unit operations, sterilization, digestion and clarifying.

m)   Maize shellers

n)    Seed dehuller

o)    Melon washer

p)   Multi-purpose thresher

q)    Okra slicer

r)    Vegetable slicer

s)    Manual yam chipping machine

t)    Motorized melon sheller

In the recent exhibition organized by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council in Abuja, NCAM stand drew the highest crowd. In fact the Minister of Science and Technology was fascinated that he climbed and operated NCAM made tractor. In addition to the achievements he presented on cassava planter, I will like to add that a two row automatic cassava planter has been developed by Engr Pro E.U Odigboh of the Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Engr. J.C. Adama, (PhD) adamajoseph@yahoo.com

The newspaper version of the article