By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has started distribution of tractors to farmers in Kaduna State as part of strategies to enhance mechanized agriculture and boost food security.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar, at the weekend in Kaduna made this disclosure at the inauguration of the distribution exercise under the FGs Agricultural Tractorisation Programme.
He said agriculture being the key sector driving the economy, needed for it to be reinvigorated through tractor acquisition to achieve food security.
The minister said tractors would lead to an improved quantity and quality of food per person as well as reduce drudgery of farmers in the country.
Increasing productivity through tractorisation is fundamental to food security as we have seen in countries like China, he said.
According to him, farmers are expected to make 40 per cent down payment while the balance of 60 per cent will be spread over a period of three years.
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He reiterated the governments commitment to provide an enabling environment to the citizens.
The Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Alwan Hassan, said the reason why farmers could not increase the countrys food production was because they relied on manual labour.
He said the programme had been designed to enhance farmer`s access to tractors and implements, to encourage mechanized agriculture in the country.
Hassan said tractors would be released to the Manage Service Providers on loans, while farmers could access them under a hiring scheme, to increase productivity, stabilize prices and food security in the country.
Earlier, Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the programme would move agriculture from subsistence to commercial venture.
Agricultural mechanization will improve yields, address nutrition issues and food security, he added.
On his part, Iliyasu Muazu, Kaduna chapter chairman of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, said the gesture would assist farmers who could not afford tractors.
He, however, called for more support to the Manage Service Providers to ensure that farmers benefit from the programme across the 774 local government areas.
The chairman urged farmers to take advantage of the subsidized tractors to improve their productivity.
