- Firm task states to replicate feat
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Katsina State government has procured 400 tractors to boost food production.
This was disclosed by a Chinese partner and supplier, Williams Xui, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja.
Xui tasked investors in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to replicate the Katsina State model of mechanised farming to address food insecurity in the country.
He also praised Katsina Governor, Dikko Radda for pioneering large-scale agricultural interventions, including the procurement of 400 tractors and the training of local youths to support the state’s agro-industrial transformation.
He noted that the model implemented in Katsina could serve as a blueprint for other states to ensure food insecurity and boost youth empowerment.
Recall that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in January projected that 30.6 million people in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are projected to face acute food and nutrition insecurity or worse during the June–August 2025 lean season.
“I believe other states can learn from this experience. Mechanisation is a necessary step for agricultural development. Especially in the North, there is a lot of good land that should be cultivated. Other states should consider creating similar plans”, Xui stated.
He disclosed that the firm had completed the supply of 400 tractors and several combined harvesters to the state, with distribution already underway across all 34 local councils.
Xui acknowledged logistical challenges in the project’s execution, including the rapid shipment of machinery from China and time-bound delivery to meet the farming season, saying the project was successfully completed and handed over on schedule.
Also, President of Ben 10 Equipment Company and a key partner in the project, Ambassador Bernard Oshi, commended Governor Radda’s commitment to reviving agriculture and industrial growth in the state..
He said that Katsina’s approach combines equipment deployment with youth empowerment, adding that it has also helped to address insecurity in the region.
According to Oshi, about 40 percent of the youths from the programme have been redirected from criminal activities to productive engagement in agriculture.
He said: “I came to deeply admire Governor Radda’s leadership skills and proactive Vision during our trip to China, where we sought out the most innovative agricultural and industrial equipment to support his transformative agenda. There I saw a man who knows exactly what he wants—and what is best for his people.
“A man focused on achieving his revolutionary goals, undistracted even for a moment. A leader with a clear game plan to elevate his state to compete favourably with the most prosperous states.
“It is now common knowledge that the dividends of democracy are steadily spreading throughout the state reaching even the most remote corners of what was once a neglected region in northern Nigeria.
“Insecurity in the region remains a significant challenge, but the governor is confronting it head-on through his social reengineering efforts and ongoing developmental strides, aiming to make Katsina the new food basket of the nation. ”