By Queen Kunde
In an effort to support farmers produce more food to cushion the current food shortage in the Country, Taraba State Government has acquired fifty-three more compact tractors and one hundred and seventy-three small tractors for the State.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security Professor Nicholas Namessan Oliver disclosed this after the tractor distribution committee meeting held at the Governor Agbu Kefas Agricultural Mechanization Center at the TSTC in Jalingo yesterday.
He said all the twenty containers conveying the tractors are expected in the State within the week.
The Commissioner revealed that the committee on the distribution of tractors have started collecting application forms from cooperative groups.
He hinted that part of the criteria required on the application form includes signature of Chairman, Secretary and treasurer of the cooperative group, the signatures of designated local government Chairmen, traditional rulers and others.
Prof. Oliver hailed Governor Agbu Kefas for slashing amount to be paid on the tractors as the small tractors which cost State government nine million naira now goes for four point five million naira after initial payment of two point five million naira and forty-six-thousand-naira monthly payment for four years.
The Commissioner Further explained that the big tractors which cost seventy million naira was slashed to thirty-five million naira by Governor Agbu Kefas with initial payment of seventeen point five million naira and monthly payment of three hundred thousand naira for the period of four years.
He empathizes that the right thing would be done despite the slight delay in the distribution of the tractors as government is poised at identifying with genuine farmers to ensure food security.
Also speaking, Chairman of Jalingo local Government Council Aminu Jauro Hassan who is a member of the distribution committee assured Governor Agbu Kefas of local government Chairmen’s resolve to always support his laudable programs and policies.
On his part,Kru Jibbu Abubakar Mahmud who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers thanked Governor Agbu Kefas on his peace efforts that has wade Taraba State of kidnapping and banditry and for providing fertilizers and other agro inputs for farmers.
He advised Tarabans to reciprocate the good intention of the governor by tolerating one another for the interest of Peace and development.
Other members of the distribution Committee that spoke are Chairperson of the National Council of Women Society Punarimam Daniel Atenji,Representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bishop Isaac Philip Nathan and his Muslim Council counterpart, Aminu Mohammed Mahmud.