As part of its efforts to improve mechanized farming, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture has trained not less than 30 young farmers in machinery operation and maintenance. The participants picked for the training were selected from five states of the federation.
Speaking on the training, Dr. Olugbenga Arokoyo, a specialist at the National Fadama coordination office in Abuja said the training was borne out of the need to raise good and competent operators and mechanics to handle farm equipment.
There were beneficiaries from Jigawa, Ebonyi, Ondo and Osun state.
According to Arokoyo, Mechanized Farming must be a part of Fadama projects as this is what is obtainable in other parts of the world.
He said,” It is said that a tractor in Nigeria has an average three-year lifespan whereas the same tractor can last for 30 years in an ideal situation,”
“This company will also operate a tractor hiring system so that Nigerian farmers and the private sector can collaborate with each other for economic benefits.”
Speaking further, he said the program is expected to truncate any challenge that may come up against the aim of the federal government to solve problems of food security and mechanized farming.
He added that the training will also encourage the youth to embrace mechanized farming.
Also speaking on the training, Mr. Akin Olotu, the Special Assistant (SSA) on Agriculture and Agric Business to the Ondo State governor bemoaned the poor state of tractors, attributing it to poor handling, lack of effective management and unavailability of spare parts
“We just have to change because these tractors are our assets and it is incumbent on us to use the tractors very well,” he said.
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