In a decisive move to promote food security in Nigeria, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the purchase of 2,000 tractors, 4,000 disc ploughs, and 1,200 tractor trailers among other equipment under the National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (NAMP).
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, to outline the outcomes of the FEC meeting in Abuja, saying that the equipment will be supplied by Astride DMCC firm which is also planning to set up assembling plans for some of this equipment in the country.
He said, “Procurement of 2,000 tractors, 4000 disc ploughs, 1000 disc ridges, 1200 tractor trailers, and assorted spare parts. The items to be supplied are for the National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (NAMP) to strengthen national food security.
“Astride DMCC, which has done a similar job in Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, and Togo, will supply all the equipment and will also set up a plant to assemble the machinery, in the second stage of the contract.”
In addition, the Federal Government said it will engage stakeholders to get a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for commodities, ramp up production, especially among smallholder farmers in the 2024/2025 farming season to promote production of fortified food commodities, and others.
The development comes as Nigeria battles a food security crisis with food inflation at 40.5 percent as households struggle to provide for their families across the country.
Furthermore, the prices of staple foods, especially grains have risen above 100 percent in the past year.
Recently, the Federal Government announced plans to share ₦50,000 to 100,000 households across the country’s 36 states for three months and purchase food items worth ₦155bn to be distributed across the country.
