NAN-AE-2
Technology
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Nov. 18, 2016 (NAN) Dizengoff Nigeria, in collaboration with Phinada Integrated Farms, has introduced first-hand greenhouse technology to the northern part of the country, to improve agricultural production.
Mr Antti Ritvonen, Dizengoff`s Country Manager, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Ritvonen said that the partnership had brought out first-hand fresh products from the greenhouse technology, known as the Dizengoff Farmers Kit.
“The Dizengoff Farmers Kit was developed with the aim of helping farmers like the Phinada Integrated Farms with an all-year-round technique to produce and increase yields of greenhouse crops.
“The greenhouse crops are tomatoes, pepper, cucumber and sweet melons, which will earn the greenhouse operators guaranteed income on their investment as well as improve on the quality of food consumed by Nigerians.
“This will ensure sustainability, availability and affordability of quality food for all Nigerians and be a significant net provider of food to the global community.”
According to him, the greenhouse comes in different sizes and is specifically designed to help farmers work smarter, grow better and harvest bigger.
He said that a complete greenhouse is a combination of drip irrigation system, quality seeds, knapsack sprayer, agro chemicals & water-soluble fertiliser, training, installation, agro advisory support and insurance.
The manager urged the government to continue to provide an enabling environment by formulating and implementing policies that would make the agriculture sector self-sufficient and private sector-driven.
“That way, lots of employment opportunities will be created for Nigerians by Nigerians and there will in turn be an appreciable reduction of youth involvement in crimes.
“Therefore, to ensure the agricultural sector grows at the rate we all envision into the self-sufficient and private sector-driven model, government at all levels need to embrace the greenhouse technology.
“It will also develop the sector by encouraging banks to provide loan facilities at single digit interest rate for Nigerians to engage meaningfully in the production of high quality food to boost the economy of the nation.”
He further identified some challenges militating against the provision of the greenhouse technology to individual farmers.
“The issue of import duty on greenhouse equipment which we sincerely hope that the planned duty exemption granted to greenhouse will be fully implemented.
“The process of importing special greenhouse fertilisers required to achieve the desired yields can be made less cumbersome by ensuring that genuine importers certified by the Ministry of Agriculture are recognised.
“The tractors that are imported as semi-knocked down, bear a 35 per cent duty, while fully built and fully knocked down tractors have zero percent duty,” he said.
He appealed to the Federal Government to consider the semi-knocked down tractors for zero per cent duty, saying that this would create job opportunities for Nigerians.
NAN reports that Phinada Integrated Farms is owned by Sen. Philip Aduda, the Minority Whip in the Senate, who also represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). (NAN)
ROK/MOL/NKO
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Nkechi Okoronkwo
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