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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government has said 12,000 farmers have applied to acquire the 2,000 tractors, it launched 7 months ago.
In July last year, President Bola Tinubu, unveiled the tractors and other farm machinery brought in from the Republic of Belarus.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari, at the symbolic distribution, yesterday in Abuja, said the government would ensure strict monitoring of the distribution process and how they would be used.
“It is imperative to inform you that over 100,000 applications were received for this first phase alone,” he said.
Also, he explained that through the Renewable National Agricultural Mechanization Programme, the government had deployed heavy capacity tractors and over 9,000 precision implements under a national framework.
“This first tranche of 600 tractors marks the beginning of a phased acceleration. This will be followed by 750 tractors and 650 tractors culminating in a nationwide force of 2,000 mechanization assets.
“It is imperative to inform you that over 100,000 applications were received for this first phase alone.
“And I think that beats that of the National Agricultural Seed Council by 20 fold. That is not merely an interest, that is confidence in leadership.
“Today we proved that renewed hope is not just a slogan, it is a structured execution.
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“In line with Mr. President’s vision that scale must drive impact, these factors are not distributed for private ownership.
“They are entrusted to mechanization service providers where each factor, with the capacity to service approximately 600 hectares per year, becomes not just a machine but a multiplier of productivity,” he added.
Also, the Director General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Fatuhu Mohammed Buhari, said his Council has received additional 2,000 applications.
“I have more than 2,000 applications in my office, thinking that City Council is responsible for this mechanization.
“So, today I am very happy that this programme has come to see light, and Nigerians can have hope, and we are going to see a lot of progress in food security,” he said.
He added that gape should be bridged, adding that young farmers should be encouraged.
“I was advising my brother, Ayo, I was telling him, why don’t you share these 2,000 tractors to 774 local governments?
“Virtually each local government will get 12, and have a PPA with the local government. Then he told me the blueprint.
“I was amazed when I saw it. My idea was something else, but the federal government has a better one. I wish us all the best, and congratulations, my brother,” he added.
