On Tuesday, the Federal Government announced that it has received over 250 new tractors, with more shipments expected to arrive every week. These tractors came in 85 shipping containers, with each container holding three tractors.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, shared this information with reporters during the first press briefing of the year, organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
This delivery represents about 10% of the total 2,000 tractors that the government is expecting from Belarus as part of a $1 billion program aimed at modernizing agriculture in the country.
Back on June 27, 2024, the National Economic Council approved a plan to establish 1,000 service providers in the agricultural sector across Nigeria, each equipped with tractors to help boost farming efficiency.
At that time, Kyari mentioned that the government was working on a new agreement with a Belarusian company to supply 2,000 tractors each year for the next five years, along with 9,000 additional tools and spare parts to support farming activities.
Before this deal with Belarus, the government had already contracted two major companies, John Deere and Tata, to deliver 2,000 tractors by the end of 2024. However, in March of that year, Kyari expressed concerns about delays in receiving these tractors.
Read Also: Telecom Rate Increase: Big Financial Strain on Nigerians
During Tuesday’s briefing, Kyari explained that while they have received a significant number of tractors, the main focus should be on the overall goal of acquiring 2,000 tractors and the accompanying 9,000 farming implements. Each tractor will come with essential tools such as a plough, a harrow, a planter, and a boom sprayer, with a total of 2,000 of each type of implement being ordered. Additionally, there will be 1,200 trailers, as some existing trailers are being repaired.
Kyari emphasized that it’s not just about how many tractors have already arrived; the key question is when the government will receive all 2,000 tractors along with the 9,000 implements. He pointed out that a tractor alone isn’t very useful without the necessary tools to go with it. For every tractor, there will be a corresponding plough, harrow, and planter, as well as boom sprayers. While they planned for 2,000 trailers, they are currently expecting 1,200 because some trailers are still being refurbished.
In summary, while the arrival of the tractors is a positive step, the government is focused on ensuring that the complete order, including all the necessary tools and trailers, is fulfilled to support the country’s agricultural needs.
