STIHL, a company specializing in agricultural equipment production for smallholder farmers, is working on bringing affordable farming mechanization closer to the end-users in Africa. Hence, in partnership with C.WOERMANN et IITA, STIHL organized a hands-on training program on agricultural equipment usage and maintenance. The training, which took place at the IITA headquarters on 11 May, assembled farmers and agro-input dealers from various parts of Nigeria.
The training was in two phases: the first featured a practical session on machines for soil and trees, such as brush cutters, tillers, earth augers, and palm harvesters. The second phase focused on the practical operation of machines for water, such as water pumps, mist blowers, and sprayers. Ewokolo Achiri, STIHL Marketing Manager for West and Central Africa, and Volker Rohlich, STIHL Training expert, showed the participants how to operate and maintain the machines using the correct quantity of STIHL oil and fuel mixture. IITA Postharvest Specialist Peter Kolawole assisted with the demonstrations.
During the training, Achiri informed the participants that STIHL produces various agricultural products for land cultivation to pre-harvest. “The main thing about our products is how they fit the farmers looking for small-scale machines. They are portable products that are power-driven, gasoline-driven, and can be used on any surface type,” Achiri said.
Adebowale Akande, Head of IITA Agribusiness and Mechanization, shared his joy about the steps STIHL, C.WOERMANN, and IITA are making towards agricultural mechanization. “Even though Nigeria has a long way to go in agriculture, I am happy that we are taking some steps,” he said. He also suggested that training and machinery be made available in other parts of Oyo State, where many farmers are interested in mechanization.
Highlighting the benefits of the partnership and training to the Institute, IITA Postharvest Engineer Diallo Thierno said the STIHL showroom at IITA gives visiting dealers an idea of the role IITA can play in running technical training programs for dealers in West Africa and beyond. He added that IITA enjoys more publicity in Africa and engineering networking in Germany through this partnership. “A major benefit of this partnership to IITA is that farmers are getting solutions to their mechanization problem, resulting in increased productivity. This is part of IITA’s goal,” he said.
Following Thierno’s speech, C.WOERMANN’s Sales Manager Olubunmi Cole said, “We are happily working with IITA because the Institute is known worldwide for fantastic agricultural research and implementation.”
Klaus Okunowski, Managing Director of C.WOERMANN, mentioned that the training is the project’s first phase of bringing machinery closer to customers. Sharing project plans, Okunowski stated that there would be regular training on the use and maintenance of agricultural machinery. He added that the machines and necessary spare parts would be easily accessible to customers. “There will be a readily available technician for repairs and listening to clients’ requests for other machines,” he concluded.
Contributed by Favour Eleta
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