In a significant step towards advancing agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria, representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Agricultural Mechanization Equipment Leasing (NAMEL) convened on June 8, 2023. The meeting, a blend of expertise and aspirations, was designed to explore collaborative efforts in this crucial sector.

Key Attendees and Their Roles:

  1. Engr. Oluwatade Dada, Head of Programs, NAMEL: Spearheading NAMEL’s programmatic strategies.
  2. Mr. George Oche, Head of Admin HOA, NAMEL: Overseeing administrative operations.
  3. Mr. Ayoola Ayodeji, BA, NAMEL: Bringing business analytical expertise to the table.
  4. Mr. Oga Ogigbo, LHO, NAMEL: Liaising for NAMEL’s operational efficiency.
  5. Mr. Christopher Afolabi, ICTA, NAMEL: ICT and technical advisory.
  6. Fumiko Ikegaya, Hiroshi Okabe, Hiroki Kajisa, JICA Team Members: Offering insights into JICA’s initiatives.
  7. Patrick Ampadu, Sumitomo Representative: Introducing technological advancements and trade opportunities.
  8. Dr. Mike Nasamu, Regional Consultant, JICA: Providing regional expertise and consultation.

JICA’s Presentation Highlights: 

JICA’s insightful presentation focused on their AFICAT (Africa Field Innovation Center for Agricultural Technology) initiative, aimed at promoting mechanisation in sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative prioritises introducing modern Japanese agricultural technologies to revolutionise farming practices. The survey results shared by JICA identified critical areas needing mechanisation in Nigeria, including power tillers, motorised sprayers, smart measurement tools, and affordable financing for machinery.

NAMEL’s Response and Collaboration Proposals: 

Enthused by JICA’s presentation, NAMEL officials proposed several collaboration areas:

  1. Establishing connections with Japanese OEMs for agro-machinery.
  2. Sharing knowledge on crop protection and agricultural practices through pilot demonstrations.
  3. Creating an e-commerce marketplace for direct sales and leasing of machinery.
  4. Encouraging primary production of high-demand crops by Japanese companies, focusing on backward integration strategies.

Further Discussions and Sumitomo’s Involvement: 

Beyond mechanisation, the meeting also served as a platform for introducing Mr. Patrick from Sumitomo Ltd, who is keen on exploring varied partnerships, including Tiera-TOPCON Tracking Devices and exporting Nigerian agricultural produce to Japan. Sumitomo’s emphasis on the customisable and integrative nature of the tracking device garnered interest from NAMEL, who are keen on understanding its durability and cost-effectiveness.

Concluding Remarks: 

The meeting ended on a note of mutual interest and commitment to promoting agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria. The exchange of emails post-meeting was agreed upon to refine and kick-start these promising partnerships. This collaboration marks a forward-looking chapter in Nigeria’s agricultural evolution, promising enhanced productivity and technology-driven farming methodologies.

Beyond mechanisation, the meeting also served as a platform for introducing Mr. Patrick from Sumitomo Ltd, who is keen on exploring varied partnerships, including Tiera-TOPCON Tracking Devices and exporting Nigerian agricultural produce to Japan.