Farmers condemn FG tractorization programme

The supposedly private sector driven tractorization programme of the Federal Government has been totally condemned and under-rated by farmers for lack of transparency as access to the 590 newly purchased tractors by the ministry could not be possible. 

Many of the farmers who spoke under anonymity wanted to know where the hiring centres of the tractors are located across the federation adding the procurement process by the ministry has contravened the initial plan of the private- sector driven hallmark of the minister, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had as at last year ordered the release of 590 unit of tractors, 500 power tillers and post harvest equipment to support farming as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture made available the sum of N4.5billion through the Bank of Agriculture to procure these equipment through about six incorporated companies at outrageous contract rate.

The initial plan according to Food Farms News finding was that the tractorization programmme will be private sector driven as government officials will provide an enabling environment with provision of financial support to the private sector hiring enterprises that would be deposit in the banks where all the transaction process will take place until the whole process was changed by the ministry over night as against to what the minister promised the sector.  

Already many farmers have complained that the cost of tractor is higher than the open market price and the percent of deposit for the up take was too on the high side thereby condemning the whole process.

 A massage to the minister on this issue c0ould not receive response as his special assistant on media, Dr Oyeleye told us that he will direct us to the man in charge of mechanization but which  he never did.