The Plateau Project Unit of Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), has distributed tractors, waste disposal motorcycles, and waste bins to some communities in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that ACReSAL, a World Bank project, is a multi-sectoral and multi-institutional scheme covering the environment, agriculture, and water.
The State Project Coordinator, Mr Garba Gonkol, said at the distribution of the items on Monday in Jos, that the tractors would boost mechanised agricultural production, while the waste management equipment would assist in keeping the environment clean.
Gonkol described agriculture as the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, and hence the tractors were purposely procured in order to enhance productivity of the benefiting communities.
The project coordinator said that more tractors would be given out in no distant time.
He said that the two benefiting communities, Guratop and Ampang West, in Jos South and Mangu local government areas (LGAs) of Plateau respectively, were selected based on merit.
Gonkol said that the benefiting communities were expected to form cooperative societies to maximise their benefits from the gesture.
“Sometimes in July 2023, when the task team leader came to Jos, she visited Guratop community, and she was so excited and overwhelmed with what she saw.
“They laid before her their requests and some of the teething problems they were encountering as farmers on the Plateau.
“She went there; she saw for herself the success of dry and wet season farming, and she was overwhelmed.
“Instantly, she directed me to make a proposal for the acquisition of these tractors, which she graciously granted approval.
“Today we are gathered to hand over this equipment to the benefiting communities, and I am glad this will boost our efforts towards food security,” he said.
He appreciated Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, for providing the enabling environment for ACReSAL to operate in the state.
Mr Peter Gwom, Commissioner for Environment, said that ACReSAL was intervening in many issues of climate change, farming, and water in the state.
Gwom said that though it was just starting, a lot more interventions by ACReSAL would be seen before the end of the year.
The commissioner, who officially inaugurated the equipment, commended the ACReSAL project unit, for its efforts in addressing the multitude of climate change-related challenges bedeviling the state.
He assured the unit of the support and cooperation of Plateau government, to enable it achieve its mandate.
Mr Nathaniel Jangfa, of Guratop Community, lauded ACReSAL and the state government for the kind gesture towards the farmers.
Jangfa said that the tractors would certainly boost their farming activities and, by extension, their economic well-being.
Mr. Ibrahim Kangdu of Bingham University Teaching Hospital Community, said that the waste disposal motorcycles would greatly assist them in keeping their environment clean.
NAN