Emmanuel OchayiThe Nigerian Government has unveiled plans to locally produce 2,000 tractors annually, to revolutionize agricultural landscape by bolstering food security.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, revealed this goal during a visit from Mr. Jason Brantley, Vice-President of John Deere Ltd, a renowned tractor manufacturing company.
During the meeting held in Abuja, Kyari emphasized the multi-faceted advantages of this initiative. “Our aim is to not only boost food security but also generate employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth. This move will significantly enhance both food and nutrition security in our nation.”
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Kyari highlighted the pivotal role this collaboration would play in supporting year-round farming, stressing that the government would facilitate access to these tractors through low-interest loans.”
“Farmers can organize into clusters or cooperatives to make the purchase of these tractors feasible,” Kyari added. “Payment plans will be flexible, allowing them to pay in installments.”
Speaking on behalf of John Deere Ltd, Mr. Brantley expressed the company’s commitment to exploring various avenues, including tractor hiring, acquisition, or local production.
He assured after-sales services, genuine spare parts supply, and training programs for operators and mechanics. Brantley further revealed that the tractors would possess varying capacities suitable for different terrains, ranging from 75 to 90 horsepower.
This step follows discussions initiated during the World Food Prize Foundation Day in Iowa, United States, where Vice President Kashim Shettima and high-ranking officials from John Deere Ltd. deliberated on establishing a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria.
The collaboration, facilitated by Mr. John Coumantaros, Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria, seeks to drive agricultural mechanization without direct government investment but with credit guarantees to facilitate access to affordable credit.
The move signifies a moment in Nigeria’s agricultural history, promising increased mechanization, job creation, and improved food security, reinforcing the country’s position as a leader in agricultural innovation and sustainability.
A statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Chairman and Directors of Flour Mills Nigeria, as well as Country Director of Tata Africa Services were also present in the meeting.
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