Chuka Odom, minister of state for FCT, gave the hint at Gwagwalada Area Council where he explained that the money was for the procurement of 64 tractors and other implements for the scheme in 2009. Odom disclosed that the tractors would be sold to various FCT farmer groups in line with the Federal Government mechanisation policy, adding that the scheme was a private-sector led demand driven community cooperative under the public private partnership (PPP) initiative.
The minister, who expressed displeasure over the threat of food insecurity in the country, noted that agricultural mechanisation was one of the serious problems inhibiting increased agricultural production in the country. The minister, who was represented by Garba Dukku, director of finance and administration of the Social Development Secretariat, revealed that the main objective of the scheme was to raise the level of farm power availability from the present 30,000 units of tractors and implements accumulated from the time of independence to at least 100,000 units by the year 2015.
He stated that the administration had mapped out strategies to match the anticipated increase in farm size with quantity and quality of yield, and would procure 16,000 metric tons of assorted fertilizers, 30,000 litres of agrochemicals and 6 metric tons of improved seeds for the 2010 farming season for distribution to farmers. However, the minister expressed hope that the programme would be a welcome relief to farmers in the FCT, as it would effectively and drastically reduce drudgery of the farmers and as well as increase their farm size above 5ha, currently the average size per family.
In his remarks, Mustapha Batsari, secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, lamented that the business of agriculture in the country had been left in the hands of peasant and small-time farmers. Batsari, therefore, stressed that while their efforts might have succeeded in meeting the basic food needs of the nation, it had not done same for the nation’s economy or the economic conditions of the farmers themselves, as they continue to grapple with poverty and poverty induce problems everyday.
The farmers’ secretary, who reiterated the commitment of the administration towards ensuring that farmers embrace modern farming methods, urged all FCT farmers to form formidable cooperatives in order to access various Federal Government grants and incentives aimed at boosting the economic base of farmers.
He revealed further that the FCT administration had finalised arrangement to assist the FCT farmers to solve the problem of crop failure through the provision of adequate and efficient extension services delivery, necessary infrastructural facilities, critical inputs and agricultural credit scheme to enable increased productivity.