Dizengoff Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja launched new farming equipment (CASE Tractor), to boost mechanised farming and food production in the country.
Country Manager of Dizengoff Nigeria, Mr Antti Ritvonen, said for Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in food production, farmers must embrace large scale agricultural activities.
He said that the initiative was part of its partnership with CASE IH and the company’s contribution to invest in the nation’s agricultural sector.
He expressed concern that some farmers were still embarking on manual farming methods, using hoes and cutlasses, which are time consuming, laborious and very inefficient.
According to him, Case IH is a world-leading tractor company that had been in existence for 175 years.
‘‘Dizengoff Nigeria, is partnering CASE IH, a global leader in agricultural equipment manufacturer, in the area of providing quality tractors to Nigerian farmers.
‘‘It is a new equipment entering Nigeria market. CASE IH is a world- leading tractor company; it is coming at a right time when the country is diversifying its economy through agriculture.
‘‘It is a good timing because we will make good contribution to develop the country’s agriculture through mechanisation.
‘‘We will also be finding solutions to different types of farmers’ challenges, especially smaller farmers when it comes to mechanisation.
‘‘We will also provide tractor services for those that cannot purchase them.
‘‘We are very excited to be partnering with Case IH in the area of providing quality tractors to the Nigerian farmers.
‘‘We intend to improve farming substantially as well as revolutionise the Nigerian agricultural sector through mechanisation,’’ he said.
The country manager, however, assured Nigeria of Dizengoff’s commitment to sell the most reliable and productive agricultural equipment available to the country.
Mr Damisa Enahoro, the Commercial Manager, Tractor and Implement, Dizengoff, said that without doubt, mechanisation was the solution and way to go in order to improve farm yields.
‘‘Nigeria has the potential of becoming self-sufficient and mechanisation is key to achieving it; this will invariably stimulate the overall economy of Nigeria.
‘‘The partnership enables Dizengoff to get all its technicians and service team trained by CASE IH, with the sole aim of providing a robust after-sales support to its customers,” he said.
Mr Marco Raimondo, CASE IH Business Director Middle East and Africa, said that the company decided to enter Nigerian market because it has confidence in the equipment.
He further stated that CASE IH’s products had been tested in different parts of the world, disclosing that this was the first time the company was entering Nigerian market.
He assured Nigerians of full support and partnership with Dizengoff for the growth of agriculture in the country.
On his part, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, said that based on his experience in the agricultural sector, Nigeria needed to embrace mechanisation to save time and minimise losses.
‘‘Most of our youths are not attracted to agriculture and some that are into farming are doing it because they met their parents doing it, but how can we change this?
‘‘Government alone cannot meet the needs of our farmers. Now that Dizengoff Nigeria is offering to help farmers with this equipment, it is a good initiative.
‘‘Some companies brought their equipment to Nigeria but within limited time, they left and that turned the country to a dumping ground.
‘Many of our youths in the university are interested in agriculture but there is no model to look up to and put them through,’’ he said. (NAN)
ROK/APA/MOL/AFA