Farmers News - Beginning of a Revolution in the Mechanization of Nigeria's Agriculture

To an average Nigerian youth, the man with hoe and cutlass remains the best image of a Nigerian farmer. Majority of Nigeria's smallholder farmers are often too poor to employ modern tools, such as tractors and plows, despite large investment by the government in the past.

The Nigerian agricultural industry, populated as it is by aged and ageing peasants, has progressively developed into a world of drudgery for losers, shunned and despised by Nigerian youths.

To change this image of hoe and cutlass, it has now become important to come up with a new program that will aggressively privatize the commercialization of agricultural machineries in Nigeria. To this end, the Federal Government decided to stop the buying and distribution of tractors to farmers as it was done in the past.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently launched the private-sector driven Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHE) to mark the beginning of a revolution in the mechanization of Nigeria's Agriculture. The goal is simple: put hoes and cutlasses into the museums and provide farmers with access to affordable mechanized services across the country.

The President directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to set aside N 50 billion Agricultural Mechanization Fund for the roll out of the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises across the country. The initiate is a purely Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) strategy that will set up Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises in strategic locations to provide mechanized farm services to farming communities.

The project includes leasing/hiring out of various types of agricultural equipment for land preparation, harvesting and post-harvest operations, repair and maintenance of such equipments. The centers will also serve as an incubator for human capital development within farming communities.

Speaking during the launch of the N144m emergency mechanization intervention support services for Zamfara farmers recently in Gusau, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina noted that the days of corruption in tractor procurement and supply by government are now over. "Just as we ended the corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors, we have now ended decades of corruption in government-controlled procurement and distribution of tractors.

"In the past, the government used to buy and distribute tractors to state governments. As in the case of seeds and fertilizers most of the tractors never got to the farmers. In most cases, these tractors were old and refurbished old tractors sold back to government."

The Minister disclosed that between 2014 and 2016, that the Agricultural Mechanization Fund will establish a minimum of 1,200 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHEs) across the nation.

"The Centers will provide 6,000 units of tractors and their implements, 15,000 power tillers and over 20,000 planting, harvest and post harvest equipments.

"The centers will be used to mechanize 4 million hectares of farm land in the country and expand food production by an additional 20 million metric tons. The centers are projected to create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs for youths."

Adesina disclosed that Zamfara state is having the first of the agricultural equipment hiring enterprises commissioned with three of the senatorial districts having a centre and the fourth centre located in Gusau, the state capital.

"The four centers will be fully equipped with 20 units of tractors and power tillers each and various harvest and post harvest equipments.

"The total cost of the equipments for four AEHEs in Zamfara State is N 144 million. The equipments are being deployed to Zamfara State through the State chapter of the Tractor Owners and Operators Association (TOOAN) to render emergency mechanization intervention support services to farmers in Zamfara state.

The Minister of Agriculture disclosed that the ministry will support farmers all across Zamfara State to have access to subsidized mechanized services from these agricultural equipment hiring enterprises.

"Given the recent communal clashes that led to the destruction of farm produce and death of traction animals, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, will pay for 100% of the mechanization services for the farmers between now and the end of the dry season. "

Adesina said the tractors will be used to cultivate an average of 8000 hectares, covering plowing, harrowing and ridging tillage operations.

"The mechanization services will boost food production in the Zamfara State by an additional 32,000 metric tons of food. Over 1,000 jobs will be created for the youths.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201411140391.html