By Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
Taraba government says it has concluded plans to distribute the first batch of tractors to farmers in the state ahead of the farming season to boost food production.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Prof. Nicholas Namessan disclosed on Friday in Jalingo, while inspecting the assembling of 20 Cabrio compact tractors and 250 units of mini tractors.
The Commissioner said the state government has ordered a total of 100 units of Cabrio Compact Tractors and 750 units of mini tractors, which would all be delivered to farmers.
Namessan said Governor Agbu Kefas has developed a template on how the tractors would be shared to farmers across the 16 Local Government Arreas of the state at a subsidized rate.
He further disclosed that 60 home based engineers have been trained by the Ghanaian engineers to assemble, maintain, operate and train farmers on how to operate and maintain the tractors.
In an interview with journalists, the commissioner said, “We have received so far, 20 Cabrio Compact Tractors and 250 mini high power tractors which will be distributed to our farmers on May 28, 2024.
“Government has already developed a template through the just concluded farmers registration.
The preliminary assessment of the registration at various local governments is what we are going to use in distributing the tractors.
“I wish to disclosed here that government has also perfected plans to subsidize the prices of fertilizer and herbicides for farmers to ensure that every farmer goes in production successfully.
“I want to assure all the people of the state that the tractors would be given directly to genuine farmers to achieve the government desire of ending hunger in Taraba.
