Agriculture is an essential sector in every society, whether developed or underdeveloped because food is a necessity to humanity. With agricultural tools, man can produce what he needs to be well-fed, clothed and as well-treated medically as noted by Josiah Sati Nyalwat, CEO of Nyalwat Technical Works Company, a Plateau State indigene. BINTA SHAMA had a chat with him.
Importance of agriculture
In today’s fast moving technological world, you need to sow seeds every morning in good faith, just like marriage, in order to enjoy the valuable produce in the future. For decades, agriculture has been associated with the production of essential food crops, which could amount to importing other essential inputs, machinery, raw-material, and other infrastructure that are helpful for the support of farming. The proper choice and use of equipment is very important for the efficient production of much needed food and fiber both within and outside the country. Agricultural engineers are the unsung heroes. This vital industry which is the scientific brain behind the mechanical brand of modern crop and livestock production. The importance of tractors and its implements in agricultural mechanization is a necessitated.
What is the motivation behind the invention of agric tools?
The great challenge I saw with farmers drying agricultural products in the sun where you have environmental disaster, terminal diseases, like laser fever, and many diseases in like manner, etc.
Describe your invention
Well, I have series of inventions in form of agricultural equipment. I constructed a machine called dryer that can dry products hygienically in a way acceptable by NAFDAC, which can be used both in the day, at night and even during rainy season. It is an invention suitable in every given weather. Agriculture is an essential sector in every given society whether developed or underdeveloped because food is a necessity to humanity. With agriculture, man can be well fed, clothed and as well treated medically.
I have block molding machines, these are machines we use to produce 9 inches and 6 inches vibrated compacted hollow blocks, to reduce hardship faced by Nigerian as they sometimes lose their produce, especially in the middle of August when rain is heavy and most houses collapse because they are built using ordinary laterite which cannot withstand heavy rain.
De-stoner machine is a machine produced to remove stone from rice and acha we saw a challenge in people eating local rice with stones. Acha processing machine is used to process acha due to its health benefit as it is good food for diabetic patients.
Furnace is a machine we made to recycle waste metal, also to melt tin aluminum into ingots and spare parts production, and another advantage can be used to burn dead animals to avoid the spread of diseases, it is used in veterinary hospitals called incinerator, door used in building to provide good security.
While hammer mill is a machine used for milling maize, cassava etc. this is to avoid people eating metal which causes cancer, using stainless steel material.
Animal feed machines is a machine we made to produce cow, sheep, goat, chicken feeds, considering colony, this will feed animals in one place. This will make animals remain within a particular area, no need making animals move about in search of food, and as well avoiding issues Nigeria has faced recently based on cattle rearing. That has resulted to clashes.
Another work I have is the potatoes puller. I made this to help my immediate community people of plateau the producers of Irish potatoes, but no machine to process the products with this machines it will reduce wastage add value to potatoes value chain.
What is the patronage like?
Actually the business started in the year 2001, in the month of July to be precise. We were formerly situated at Rayfield in Jos, but moved to a more convenient place in Technology Incubation Centre, Bukuru. The company is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and Mankap, small and medium scale industry, institute of professional industrialist & management development,
Training
I have attended many exhibition workshops, am holding an HND in Mechanical Engineering with ongoing PGDE. We specialize in fabrication of locally made industrial, agricultural processing machines such as maize threshing machines, block molding machines, rice de-stoner, Irish potatoes processing machines, hammer mill ,cassava processing machine ,recycling of waste metal etc
We have received training on capacity building from Bank of industry [BoI] ,Central Bank of Nigeria, and we are hoping to receive more technical training.
We are involved in block industry, training of youths and women, we are optimistic in solving the following problems unemployment, poverty reduction, replacing manual labor to machine labor, we offer practical experience on casual/contract base to university, polytechnic college of education, siwes ITF, encouraged diversification, add value to economy growth, we are solution to Engineering problems, people eating local rice with stone, and metal.
What are the challenges on the field?
Like what I said initially, the area of support has been the greatest challenge so far because where you are able to come on with such invention and one is not being patronized it can be frustrating and one’s capital could be quenched within a twinkle of an eye which is bad for business.
How have you come by in terms of support?
Well truly speaking, there has been no support what so ever I can remember but I still remain grateful to God, my family and friends as well those who believe and cherish my work that it will eventually get better and my work will be remembered for good.
Are there any expectations?
My expectations are to be a great entrepreneur as Aliko Dangote, to add value to economic growth and hoping that the federal Government notices my invention via this medium and others. What moved me to fabricate these machines is to add value to economy growth, to be solution to processing, create employment, and improve diversification. Reduce poverty, advanced technology,,
I actually started the business with sum of N1.5 m through self-effort, high patronage from farmers, food processing entrepreneurs and so far we are still doing great and hoping it gets better in the nearest future.
Words of encouragement
Of course yes! Will like to tell inventors, business minded persons like me and the young ones there to keep pushing hard until they achieve that dream. Beyond the skies are their limits. God help us all.
