By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has concluded plans to revive the Tractor Hiring Scheme in the FCT.
The Secretary made this disclosure during an interaction with Agric Field Engineers at the ARDS Central Workshop in Gwagwalada.
The Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, who said this, revealed the intention of the Secretariat to take adequate security measures to track the movement of tractors to ensure that they are not taken outside the FCT.
He however, expressed concerns of the Administration in floating the scheme, which he noted has not been successful in the past.
The Administration, according to him, is aware of the critical roles provision of the tractors will play in boosting food production which is why it has made provisions in the 2022 budget to procure a total of 12 tractors, which will be fitted with tracking devices to monitor their use and locations of the tractors ensuring that FCT farmers benefit from the programme.
Abubakar further assured that the Secretariat will be looking into the provision of other Agricultural machineries to farmers as a strategy to improve food production and guarantee food security.
On his part, the Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mustapha Adamu Danze described the visit to the central worksop as an eye opener for the Council, which he assured will be keying into the initiative by the Secretariat.