The Nigerian government on Saturday launched a tractor rental scheme in Kaduna as part of efforts to improve agricultural practices in the country.
The initiative is facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and other relevant partners.
According to a statement signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the chief information officer in the ministry,
The initiative will help encourage mechanized agriculture, boost food and nutritional security, and create more job opportunities for Nigerian youth.
Speaking during the official flag-off and distribution of tractors to farmers at the BOA office in Kaduna State, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, said that the ministry in collaboration with BOA and representatives of manufacturers have agreed to support the project by making tractors with equipment available to farmers in terms of concessionary payments issued.
He noted that Nigerian Farmers are expected to make a 40 percent down payment while the balance 60 percent will be spread over three years.
He said the ministry would get 10,000 units of tractors with equipment and 50,000 units of equipment to start the programme.
According to him, the important role of agriculture in the Nigerian economy makes it necessary to revive the sector through the acquisition of tractors in order to achieve food and nutrition security.
He explained that this would improve the quantity and quality of food for everyone, alleviate the hardships of farmers in Nigeria as well as increase productivity in the agricultural sector.
He added that Nigeria and Brazil signed a bilateral agreement under Brazil’s Other Food International Program (MFIP) which resulted in a loan in the form of $1.2 billion.
Explaining further, Mr. Abubakar noted that the agricultural sector remains the key sector driving the economy in Nigeria and accounts for 23.78 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ernest Umakhihe, represented by the director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Abubakar Abdullahi, noted that the Program will move agriculture from subsistence to commercial business ventures, improve the economy of most farmers, drive development in agrarian communities, and encourage participation and involvement youth among others.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture Limited, Alwan Hassan, said that the status of agricultural mechanization in the country is very low, about 0. 027hp / ha compared to the Recommendation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 1.5. hp/ha.
He added that the success of agricultural production is highly dependent on the level of mechanization.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna chapter, Lliyasu Muazu, called for more support from service providers to ensure that farmers benefit from the program in the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
The event was attended by the commissioners of agriculture in Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau States, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), among other participants.
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