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The Sokoto State Government has said that it would introduce a tractor-hire scheme to boost mechanisation in farms and assist farmers to enhance their production capacity.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal divulged, while inspecting agricultural processing machines in Kware Local Government Area, the machines are to be distributed to farmers under the state’s FADAMA III additional funding scheme.
“We are starting with 30 tractors, with each of the three senatorial districts to have 10 tractors each. This initiative will be implemented with the collaboration of the FADAMA III co-ordinating office, the state ministry of agriculture and the state investment company which will provide the tractors,” the Governor stated.
He said a strict vetting process would be implemented for those to benefit from the gesture. “We want to ensure that both the small- and large-scale farmers have access to the tractors and other machineries.
“We hope to expand the scheme to ensure we have enough tractors to help our farmers have access to modern farm tools at affordable prices,” he added.
Tambuwal said 127 farmer Processing Groups, made up of 1,385 small-holder farmers, have benefitted from the agricultural processing machines and equipment distributed to farmers across the state by the FADAMA III office in Sokoto.
According to him, in addition to the creation of two agricultural produce aggregation centres in the state, eleven tomato production net houses have been established at various locations in the state.
“This gesture is part of our collective efforts towards modernising our farming techniques, so as to improve yield and income of our farmers,” he stated.
Tambuwal further revealed that 243 unemployed youths have been trained to embrace agriculture, saying this was done with a view to exploring the agribusiness sector and instilling in the youths and women the technical and practical skills that could enhance their competitiveness in agri-prenuership.
