The Federal Government Thursday signed an agreement with an international tractor manufacturing firm to provide 10, 000 tractors for rural farmers in the country, The project will ensure effective delivery of the tractors to farmers in the 774 Local Governments through 2,500 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHE) to be established in the LGs. At the pact signing among the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigerian Agricultural Mechanization and Equipment Leasing Company (NAMEL) and John Deere in Abuja, the Agriculture Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh said for over 30 years, the federal government repeatedly made efforts to addressing mechanization challenge in the country which unfortunately failed and contributed adversely to development of the sector. Describing the initiative as first segment of the AIMS scheme, Ogbeh explained that the project will be closely monitored as farm inputs are being distributed across the local governments. He said the solution newly invented will help increase food production with expectation to realize 1 million tractors in 15 years. “We have invented something because I do not see any country in Africa that wants to grow its agriculture that can avoid adopting the method Tractors Owners and Hiring Facility Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN) have perfected in the last four years. Managing to rise from five tractors to almost 600 is a feat. If you want to know how difficult it is to own and operate a tractor, try and buy one,” Ogbeh said.
He applauded the farm equipment hiring associations for their ingenuity stressing need to improve on the relationship with John Deere. “In the next 15 years, we should be looking at something close to a million tractors in this country because dry season and irrigation agriculture has to grow. Not every farmer needs a tractor, not every farmer should or can afford a tractor and since the bulk of our farmers are small holders, they rely on the services you provide,” he added.
The minister appealed to the firm to consider establishing fabrication and assembling plants in the country adding that the country had renewed efforts to fix the local steel industry. He argued that the population of 450 million people in 30 years is a good market for the firm to explore.
The Managing Director in charge of Sub Saharan Africa for John Deere, Mr. Jason Brantley at the meeting disclosed plans by the firm to set up assembling plants in Nigeria and ensure technological transfer. Brantley said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement is expected to ensure easy deployment of high quality mechanized equipment to the farmers with support from the AEHE , Through smart campaign, the partnership according to him was to expand farmers’ access to farm machines in order to improve yields and make more money. “On access to financing, we will offer local currency financing under 10 per cent which is almost unheard of. The reliability and support is built into the machines so that they run – tractors don’t run or feed anybody, they have to run and it takes a significant investment we prepared to make that a reality.
“Every of these tractors will have hello tractor telematics solutions to enable efficient management, operation and maintenance. We have plans to train the operators and technicians. That’s what we are bringing to the table,” Brantley said. “It is part of this agreement; we will all establish assembling facility in Nigeria for John Deere equipment. Plans are on the way to do that is quickly as possible. So we will begin assembling all the tractors and implements. They will be put together by Nigerians in the country and we will be adding value. That creates a foundation we can continue to grow as the industry grows,” he added.

SOURCE : https://www.infonewsnigeria.com/discussion/1186/fg-signs-pact-to-deliver-10-000-tractors-to-rural-farmers?new=1

MYND44 SEUN FYNESTBOI LALASTICLALA UBOMA

Another northern propaganda powered by the clueless apc govt

If however it were to be true,remotely so, we know the rural area FG is referring to!
Only the north Farms!

Ofcourse, that's how stuff works in this country. The fulanis will use monies stolen from crude oil sales to buy tractors and distribute among themselves.

Ask them why are some benefiting and others arent', some fools in government will tell you "oh you people don't farm" that is why we buy the equipment and give to our ethnic group only. We are joking in this country. The way resources are shared is in gross disadvantage to millions of Nigerians.

One guarantee for us all is that armed robbers, kidnappers, insurgents, militants, herdsmen, and boko haram will continue to give all of us sleepless nights. And they do so justifiably because they'eve been cheated and continue to be stolen from by those in government.

HARDDON:
Another northern propaganda powered by the clueless apc govt

If however it were to be true,remotely so, we know the rural area FG is referring to!
Only the north Farms!