ibironkeeniola 
Britain’s finest agriculture equipment sellers, re-sellers and manufacturing companies sought to provide affordable solutions to agricultural mechanisation in a pre-eminent interactive trade expo, last weekend.
The agri-tech giants at the Alternative Agriculture Equipment Trade Show showcased their products, technology and services to farmers, investors and stakeholders in the Nigerian agriculture sector.
The event was the first-of-its-kind and it offered an opportunity for farmers and agro-preneurs to access UK’s most competitively-priced agricultural equipment on a digital platform.
It was organised by UK’s Department for International Trade (UK DIT) in partnership with the Developing Market Associates (DMA) and key agriculture sector stakeholders from Nigeria, including AgroNigeria and Stanbic IBTC.
Furthermore, it resonated with the plans and aspirations of the Nigerian government to mechanise the agriculture sector, against the backdrop of the launch of the Agricultural Mechanization Programme.
Speaking at the event in his keynote address, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, said that the friendly relationship between the UK and Nigeria will help strengthen key areas of the Nigerian economy, particularly the agriculture sector which is one of the top priorities of the government.
According to Llewellyn-Jones, the UK was keen on supporting the agricultural mechanisation agenda of the government and the overall development of the agriculture sector.
He said, “Our purpose is to champion economic growth in Nigeria. The UK stands ready to support the Nigerian government’s ambition to mechanising and developing its agricultural sector.
“Nigeria now needs to promote agricultural practices and take it as a proper business, to ensure that it is done in the most productive and sustainable by the use of technology and best practices. This is where UK’s agri-tech capability comes in”.
‘We are ready for increased farm power, mechanisation,’ – AFAN
Meanwhile, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has shown commitment towards the course, stating that it is ready for the total transformation of the agriculture sector with mechanisation at the driver’s seat.
National President of the association, Alhaji Farouk Rabiu Mudi, made this known in his keynote address, stressing the importance of partnership to achieve the objective of fully mechanising agriculture in Nigeria.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA