…targets 324 within three years
By Onwa Ekor
In his quest to launch the state into a robust mechanized farming as part of his people first mantra, Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, recently flagged off the distribution of subsidised modern tractors to farmers cooperatives.
Flagging off the exercise at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation premises, Calabar, the governor reiterated that his administration will not relent in its commitment for an agricultural revolution agenda.
According to him, “when we assumed office we made a firm commitment to reposition agriculture as the corner stone of our development strategy to ensure that our actions were guided by evidence, hence we carried out a detailed situational analysis and engaged directly with farmers across our local government areas.”
He disclosed that the findings clearly indicated challenges of land preparation which remains the biggest constraint to farm expansion and productivity.
This, the governor noted, hindered farmers in the state from scaling up and moving beyond subsistence farming.
“To address it,” Otu informed that “we made a decision to invest in mini tractors that are robust, fuel efficient and most importantly adaptable to our unique terrain,” adding that, “these tractors are designed to make farming easier and more profitable for small holders while reducing production cost and labour intensity.”
The governor explained that the flagging off of 108 mini tractors in this first phase would be followed with a clear target to deploy 324 tractors across the state within three years.
He added that the tractors are being allocated to carefully screened farmers cooperatives not merely as beneficiaries but as service providers who will offer affordable mechanization services to other farmers within their communities.
“This cooperative model ensures shared ownership, responsible management and broad access to mechanization at the grassroots, as our clear vision is to enhance productivity and empower our farmers to farm more, earn more and feed more.
“With mechanization, we are unlocking the full potential of agricultural landscape to enable farmers move from subsistence to commercial farming,” Otu said.
To farmers and cooperative leaders, the governor urged them to take full responsibility for the proper use and maintenance of the tractors, use them as community assets that would serve many not few, through collective responsibility in order to transform the rural economy.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon Johnson Ebokpo, pointed out that the initiative remains a clear demonstration of the governor’s commitment to building a productive, modern and inclusive agricultural food system where farmers can thrive and the state achieve food security and sustainable rural prosperity.
“As an agrarian state, we have the potential to produce both feeds for animals and food for the entire nation especially at a time when food security has become a national concern.
“This tractor acquisition scheme is laudable because it provides a timely and practical solution to address these challenges and make farming more attractive and lucrative.
“Undoubtedly, this scheme will reduce the drudgery of traditional farming, enhance
efficiency and increase productivity across our crop value chain,” the Agric Commissioner remarked.
Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and forestry, Hon. Bette Obi, lauded the governor for the feat which he described as unprecedented.
Obi who represents Boki 1 State Constituency, also enjoined the beneficiaries and in extension farmers in the state, to take advantage of the opportunity so created through the mini tractors launch by the governor, to intensify food security and feed the world.
Chief Executive officer of Bespoke Design Concept Ltd, the company that supplied the tractors, Femi Odeleye, affirmed that by introducing the tractors, the governor was not just distributing machines but planting the seeds of a new agricultural revolution in the state.
Odeleye said: “We believe that every farmer deserves access to efficient, reliable and affordable mechanization,” affirming that, “our tractors are built with African farmers in mind, strong enough for our soil, versatile enough for the best crops and easy to maintain.
“Beyond the machine, we are also committed to providing after sales support, spare parts availability, operators training and local technical partnership to ensure that these tractors stay productive for years to come,” Bespoke CEO assured.
He further announced plans to build a tractor factory in Calabar to meet the needs of the Southern and Northern parts of Nigeria as well as Central Africa, disclosing that, the company would provide a minimum of 2000 jobs directly and indirectly while supporting the economy of the state.
