Solution to food shortage in Nigeria

A  Chinese company, YTO China-Africa Machinery Corporation, CAMACO, has concluded plans to supply 80,000 tractors to farmers in Nigeria in the view to achieve a mechanised farming in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh statement at an implementation  inauguration with Agricultural Mechanisation System,  AMS, under the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, among the Federal Government, states and YTO CAMACO at the ministry.

He mentioned the eight states that would receive the tractors includes Sokoto, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kastina, Niger, Jigawa, Taraba, and Ebonyi.

Also, three committees were inaugurated that includes Project Management Committee, Technical Implementation Committee, and Expert Consultative Group.

Minister Ogbeh said: “This project was long conceived before we came into office, and it is to improve the agricultural sector in the bid to provide enough food for Nigerians. “The country has low number of tractors, and we have less than 30,000 tractors in the country. This tractorisation programme is an attempt to catch on and improve the agricultural sector and attract younger people, and also do away with hoe and cutlass.

“We want to assure you that this MoU will not be let down. Today, I declare the three committees as announced which are Project Management Committee, Technical Implementation Committee, and Expert Consultative Group inaugurated.

“We want the YTO China-Africa Machinery Corporation, to consider the weather condition and various terrains across the country when manufacturing these tractors. Please take good look at the engine cooling system because in the dry season we have as high as 40 degrees, and the northern part of the country is very dusty so look at the air filter. Above all, let us not be short of spare parts and capacity to handle them.

Furthermore, the Minister stated that, “We want tractors that will last for 15 years for our farmers’ use. We don’t have money to come back in two years and buy tractors because we must buy value for our money.”

The Minister noted that Nigerians were stressed with food shortage and hardship at the moment, while some African countries across the border buy agricultural products from Nigeria as well.

According to Minister Ogbeh, “This sector, therefore, demands all year farming and food production in order to tackle the challenge with maximal food production”.