The discovery of oil and subsequent multi-dollar income thereafter by past governments is responsible for the current economic woes of Nigeria, acting Executive Director, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Dr. Yomi Kasali has said.

Kasali, an engineer added that in the 70s, agriculture contributed over 70 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), maintaining that the advent of petrol, Nigeria's economic scenario changed.

The executive director said this in Idofian, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state at the opening ceremony of cassava growers and tractor operators. The training was organised by African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) in conjunction with Cassava Mechanisation and Agriculture Processing (CAMAP) and NCAM. Participants were drawn from Kogi, Kwara, Ogun and Osun states.

His words: "Nigeria has always been the highest producer of cassava, but the production per hectare has stagnated to between 15 and 20 tons per hectare compared to more than 30 tons per hectare in other countries such as Brazil and Malaysia etc. Efforts should therefore be made to see that the hectarage production be improved.

"This is another milestone in the mechanization of cassava in the country. This training would not have come at a better time than this period of economic recession in the country when all tiers of government are trying to embrace the diversification programme of the federal government.

"Before you can empower beneficiaries of a programme, you need to train and educate them in order to impact the practices and technologies of the services that are required to bring about an optimum production.

"The training will, therefore bring to the fore, the persisting problems encountered in the field and how to solve these problems. Also, the operation and maintenance of tractors and equipment on cassava mechanization will go a long way in improving the skill of operators and maintenance capabilities of the beneficiaries.

"The country is littered with scraps and carcasses of different tractors due to lack of spare parts and proper maintenance. Maintenance increases the operating life of tractors. Tractor maintenance and its operation are very paramount to the realization of timely operation, optimum production and reduction of downtime."