All is set to commence early distribution of tractors and other farm inputs to farmers across the sixteen local government areas and the two development areas of Taraba State as the state government has procured 800 units of tractors including other farm inputs.
This was disclosed by the state commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Prof Nicholas Namessan during an interface with journalists in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital where the tractors were being assembled on Friday.
Taraba State governor, Dr Agbu Kefas had a few months ago announced that the state government has procured over 800 units of the tractors from the Czech Republic.
The deal for the tractors was agreed with Knights A.S of the Czech Republic to supply 100 sets of Caprio compact tractors and 750 mini-tractors to improve agricultural practices and increase general agricultural output in the state.
Conducting journalists round the tractors, the commissioner stated that early distribution of the tractors to farmers would complement both big and small-scale farmers’ efforts in the state for massive cultivation of their land for bumper harvest at the end of the season.
“Apart from provision of the tractors, we are also using Agriculture as a means of boosting employment in the state. We have already trained 60 youths on maintenance and repairs of the tractors; they will in turn train others. With this development, we believe the brain behind the revival of the Agricultural sector in the state by the governor is taking us far apart from securing food for the citizens.
“The governor has already created a template on how the tractors will be distributed to the farmers across the state.
Currently, we are on a Farmers’ Enrollment Programme. Through the programme, we shall be able to identify all farmers from their localities. The government is going to subsidize the rate on how much each of the tractors will be paid for so that even the poor can afford to benefit from the gesture,” Namessan stated.
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