Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Plans have been concluded to distribute no fewer than 10,000 tractors and inputs to farmers in the 774 Local Government Areas of the federation under a soft loan scheme of the federal government.
At the palace of Emir of Dutse, Mr Muhammadu Sanusi, over the weekend, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Muhammad Sabo Nanono, said the tractors, fertilisers, chemicals and other inputs would be disbursed to the beneficiaries to boost agricultural mechanisation in the country.
He explained that each of the councils would be allocated tractors worth N150 million each and inputs as soft loan to be repaid in an 11-year plan, noting that “what we need is that the beneficiaries must be genuine farmers and indigenes of the participating Local Government Councils.”
Mr Nanono noted that the gesture was to assist farmers to boost their production capacity for government to mop up excess produce for strategic reserves.
According to him, “Federal government will commence implementation of the programme in the second quarter of the year 2020.”
He reiterated government’s commitment to accelerate cotton, paddy and livestock productions to enhance job creation, food security programme and Internally Generated Revenue in the country.
In his remarks, the Emir, represented by Mr Basiru Sanusi, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over his commitment to reinvigorate the agricultural sector.
The Emir informed that the council had set up a committee to mobilise participation in the agricultural transformation programme of the government, saying, “When we heard about the federal government’s plans to give soft loans to farmers in the 774 local government areas, we set up an awareness creation committee to mobilize participation in the programme,”
He also pointed out that the committee would identify suitable crop in each of the seven local government areas under the Dutse Emirate Council and pledged support to the federal government’s policies and programmes.
It was very appreciable step for farmers by the Govt.
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