Yemisi Izuora/Ijeoma Agudosi
The Nigerian agriculture sector holds very huge potentials and if properly harnessed would help solve her food requirements and contribute to her economic development.
Jamir Rixton, General Manger of Lagos-based Panafrican Equipment Company during an interactive session with the media in Lagos this huge potential in the country’s agriculture is a driving force of his company’s activities in the country.
He said Panafrican has invested about Nine million dollars in the country, to establish the right infrastructure for its operations, adding: “As a company we have done a lot to keep our selves going, taken a lot of sacrifices but are not relenting.
I see a brighter future; I see big commercial projects emerging and we would do a better job of it”.
He said beyond equipment supply, the company’s operations covers the entire agric and associated value chain to include land clearance, protein production, storage and handling, processing of agriculture products and logistics.
Making specific reference to the tractor section of his operations, he said the company does not just sell equipment, but also provides the right technical support, through right counsel and after sales service and training.
While stressing on the need to compromise equipment quality, he submitted that to get the best value, farmers and agriculturists need to deploy the best equipment, and also observe a regular and professional service culture.
To be able to produce the kind of food needed to feed Nigeria’s teeming population, Mr Rixton said the answer lies in mechanised farming.
He therefore advised that Nigerian banks should be made to play more active role in the Nigerian agriculture sector by providing needed funding, since individuals may not be able to muster resources needed for mechanised agriculture.
He said as against situation between 1998 and 1992 when between 2, 500 and 3, 000 tractors per year entered the country that the figure had dropped to about 250 to 300 currently.
He said notwithstanding the current challenges, that his company sees a bright future for Nigeria and that has informed its engaging interest and investment in the country.
He advised equipment users to take good care of their equipment as a way of prolonging their lives, and in view of high cost of procuring one.