IBUSA (Delta) – Prof. Patrick Mouboghare, Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, has said that over 20 farmers cooperative societies in the state have applied to purchase tractors from the ministry.
Mouboghare made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibusa, near Asaba.
He said that the ministry received the applications following the procurement of 46 tractors and other implements by the state government for sale to farmers in the state.
The commissioner said that the present administration in the state had identified lack of tractors as a major challenge to farmers in the state.
He said: “Consequently, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan, approved the procurement of 46 tractor and the adjoining implements for sale to farmers.
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“The measure is to boost mechanisation of agriculture and increased food production in the state.
“As we speak, I have received application from over 20 credible farmers’ cooperatives.
“I have more requests than I can even provide now, and that is why the governor has approved the procurement of 46 more tractors,” Mouboghare said.
Mouboghare said that the procurement of tractors was a continuous exercise, and added that the cost of the equipment would be subsidised.
He said that before now, the few available tractors in the ministry serviced only farmer in Asaba Area.
The commissioner said that this had made it difficult for farmers in other parts of the state to access them during the farming periods.
Mouboghare said that with the state government would decentralise the services of the new equipment to enable the farmers, especially those who could not afford one to hire them.
He noted that farmers in the state had always complained that their major problem had been their inability to have access to tractors.
The commissioner said that the major assignment of the ministry now was to teach the farmers the new methods of farming.
“As you know, the price of crude oil has continued to go down and we are not crying over the falling prices.
“We are now taking advantage of the situation by focusing more on agriculture,’’ he said.
He said that in line with the policy thrust of the state government, the ministry had concluded plan to train its staff on tractor operation and maintenance.
“Before the end of this administration, every agriculture officer from salary grade level 08 to 13 must know how to use the farm implements.
“Every driver in the ministry must also have basic training on the operation and maintenance of tractor,’’ he added. (NAN)