PiLAF’s steering committee for the Oyo State Agricultural equipment fabricators policy document held a strategic meeting with the leadership of the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) in Ilorin on Tuesday, 8th October 2024. Prior to this, the NCAM leadership had been presented with the document for their review and professional input. Led by Executive Director Dr. Abdulgafar Rasheed Kamaldeen, the NCAM team praised the work PiLAF has been doing. They commended PiLAF’s extensive efforts and described the document as comprehensive and holistic. Their feedback, which included valuable suggestions on legal frameworks and technical details, aimed to further enhance the clarity and structure of the policy.
The meeting also explored some of the pressing challenges facing the fabrication industry in Nigeria. A key issue discussed was the poor state of technical institutions in the country, which has significantly hampered the growth of the fabrication sector. This concern is addressed within the policy document, as it seeks solutions to revitalise the state’s technical education system to support agricultural equipment fabrication. Another critical observation was the aging demographic within the fabrication workforce. Many of the artisans currently involved in fabrication are elderly, while the younger generation appears less interested in this field for various reasons. The need for a holistic approach to engage youths and make fabrication work more appealing was strongly emphasised as part of the broader efforts to ensure the sustainability of the sector.
NCAM also showcased some of their impressive innovations, highlighting the depth of their ongoing projects. Their fabricated outputs, which include various agricultural machinery and equipment, were widely applauded by the attendees. The quality and range of their work underscored NCAM’s pivotal role in advancing agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria. The NCAM team reiterated their commitment to capacity building, expressing a strong desire to further expand their efforts within the fabrication sector. They also emphasised the importance of increasing the visibility of their achievements, hoping to promote their activities more broadly, both to inspire greater public interest and to attract more support for their initiatives.
The meeting with NCAM is one of many steps PiLAF is taking to ensure the policy document for agricultural equipment fabricators in Oyo State is comprehensive and inclusive. By engaging stakeholders such as fabricators, academics, and policymakers, PiLAF continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a robust framework for the industry’s future. For comments or suggestions regarding the policy document, please contact PiLAF at info@pilafui.org.