When it comes to Agricultural technology development, Nigeria, though, the most populous nation in Africa, is still lagging behind. This was revealed by the Assistant Country Project Manager, Aviana Agritech Service, Dr. Segun Makanjuola.

Makanjuola was at a press conference in Lagos recently on the Aviana Nigeria International Expo 2018, Makanjuola said that agriculture is been practiced technologically for a better result in other countries. “Some of us that have travelled round the global   see the way agriculture are practiced technologically.  We need to import technology, to blend with our traditional competence. Because when we begin to do things the right way, it shortens time for good result. When we make little or no mistakes, we get better result in a short while.

“Before the boost of the commercialization of agriculture started, hoes and cutlasses, does little. Now with improved technology, tractors come in what we can plough one hour with a tractor, 100 people will not do it with their hoes and cutlasses”.

The Aviana Assistant County Project Manager said: “The expo is in partnership with Fishery Society of Nigeria, Poultry Association of Nigeria, feed molls manufacturers association of Nigeria, Crop life Nigeria, Catfish Association of Nigeria, ECOWAS Farmers Association of West Africa, all Farmers Association of Nigeria, Animal Science Association of Nigeria. Also, it has Premier Feed Mill, the producers of Top feeds brand and Olam group, the producers of chikun and aqualis feeds.

It should be noted that Aviana Africa expo gave birth to Aviana Nigeria expo before now has been in existence in other countries of Africa for years in Kenya, Uganda, India and South Africa.

“Because of the important of Nigeria in Africa agribusiness as the biggest nation in Africa, the organization decided to come to Nigeria to network the stakeholders and their products in agriculture and agribusiness to other part of the world. The expo will offer a unique productive B2B opportunity between the world’s leading agricultural and agribusiness stakeholders, companies, farmers, government agencies, farmers group and NGO’s to formulate policies and business opportunity that will enhance the development of agriculture , encourage investment, international trade, market networking , skills acquisition and tech-know-now.

“It will enhance economic cooperation, encourage local and international business market network, promoting local innovation and research, introduction of new products both local and internationally. It will help to promote and support the expansion of the market base and network, create more awareness on the products and services to the target audience.  It will build brand awareness; generate new markets, source new agents, distributors, importers and exports.

National Sale Manager, Olam Group, Mr. Matthew Asuelimen said that their company has been trading and exporting grains to all over West Africa, and some parts of Europe and America.

Mr. Asuelimen said: “The Company took a bold step to invest in aquaculture and livestock business, in Nigeria since 2015, by investing in two stages of the art manufacturing facilities in Kaduna and Ilorin. Today, Olam boost of having total capacity of 600,000 metric tonnes per annum, producing livestock feed from these two plants”.