FG to Invest N3.6 Billion on Agricultural Mechanization

‘The Nigerian Government has disbursed the sum of N3.6 billion to the National Agricultural Mechanisation Transformation Agenda, a public private partnership scheme towards addressing the low level of penetration of mechanised agricultural practise in the country,” the  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina revealed this recently in Abuja.

According to him, to commence the ongoing mechanisation intervention programme, the Federal Government has approved the release of an intervention fund to the sum of N3.6 billion which is domiciled in the Bank of Agriculture towards the establishment of an Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE). He also explained that in the first phase, the Federal Government will make available 400 units of tractors, 500 power tillers as well as harvest and post-harvest equipment towards setting up a minimum of 80 centres and will be replicated in the second phase. ‘In the third phase, he noted, 250 tractors will be made available.’
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has earmarked to bring in 1,050 units of tractors, 1,500 power tillers and 2,400 units of harvest and post-harvest equipment such as reapers, grain threshers, and cassava peelers at the end of the intervention scheme to set up 210 AEHE in demand-driven locations nationwide. “The intervention will create 6, 090 direct jobs for unemployed youths, mechanise a minimum of 488, 250 hectares of land, while 2, 441, 250 metric tons of food will be added to the national food output. Taking cognisance of the difficulties encountered by rural farmers, Government for a start will clear 6, 400 hectares of land nationwide for cassava production,” the Minister attested.
While noting that Nigeria needs to vigorously pursue the commercialisation of agricultural providers, he observed that in the short term, Government will provide 6,000 units of tractors and power tillers and about 13,000 units of harvest and post-harvest equipment as well as set up 1,200 AEHEs to render agricultural support services to farmers through the scheme.
This is another step addressing the clogs in the wheel of progress in the Agricultural sector. It is indeed an applaudable step too!
God bless the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Akinwunmi Adesina and his team! God bless Nigeria! Our future is bright!